Harsh statement from Kerttu Niskas – Here is the truth

Second place in the 20 km traditional mass start of the Canmore World Cup on Sunday was not possible Kerttu from Niska to turn their thumb vertically upwards.

– If there had been an intermediate start, I had the feeling that I would have won the race straight up. I worked quite a lot, but there were no options. There were no others willing. If someone else went to that place, the momentum stopped. I was a bit forced to be the leader, Niskanen announced in an interview with Viaplay.

The Finn bowed out on Sunday For Frida Karlsson in the final race and finished 1.6 seconds after the Swede.

– Kertu’s comment was bold, but probably correct. That’s how strong he was in the highlands. It seemed that the maintenance in Finland had been very successful, analyzed Iltalehti’s skiing expert Reijo Jylhä.

Another topic that aroused speculation in the home stands was the descent leading to the finish line. Niskanen started a long descent first, until about 200 meters before the finish line, Karlsson moved to the next track and pumped past the tiebreaker.

– The result would not have been different, even if Frida had gone down first. The peesi benefit in that place is not at all as great in traditional as in figure skating competitions, Jylhä points out.

In the final fight, the Swede with a sprinter background was more efficient than the Finn.

– Kertu had no chances at the goal line. Frida was clearly faster. Kerttu doesn’t get her hips forward as much as Frida does in a straight push. Kertu’s straight thrust gets too much traction when the hips stay behind.

Fourth ball place

The podium place in the World Cup was Niskanen’s fourth this season.

– There have been conditions on the side. Now it was a clear performance, Jylhä reminds.

On the super day of Finnish ski maintenance, Niskanen won the traditional intermediate start 10 in Toblach and the traditional 20 km pursuit at the Tour de Ski in the snowy Davos. In January, the stomach disease patient was third in the mass start of Oberhof’s traditional 20 km.

– Kerttu is a talented skier in terms of oxygen uptake. His strong physical attributes were on display on Sunday. They were supported by the situation, when he was able to ski the uphills with fully grippy skis. The course was clear both on the climbs and on almost all the descents. Kerttu could go uphill on shift skiing, Frida ran uphill, commented Jylhä.

Whereas Niskanen’s results vary between traditional and freestyle, Karlsson’s results, who are equally strong in both progression methods, fluctuate a lot. For example, at the mass start of the free 15 km in Canmore on Friday, it seemed that the Östersundian’s course is in a sharp decline. He was eleventh in the race.

– The easiest estimate is that the condition of Frida’s muscles varies a lot depending on the load. Another factor is related to energy supply. He is an athlete who lives on scarce nutrition, so dropping his energy level has a negative effect on recovery.

Matintalo shuddered

No other Finnish woman has made it to the ball this mc season.

Behind the neck on Sunday Johanna Matintalo (seventh) and Anne Kyllönen (fifteenth) made the best personal results of the season. At best, Matintalo has been fifth in the mc level on normal trips. Kyllönen, on the other hand, has always enjoyed himself in Canmore. He is no longer in the mood of 2013, when the woman caught Justyna Kowalczyk behind two second places in Canadian competitions.

– Technically, Anne is the kind of skier who can slide skis well. He’s not a runner. Anne is at her best when there is a skiable climb like the Canmore track.

Jylhä noted about Sunday’s competition that the United States, who were collectively successful in equipment matters earlier this season, were in trouble this time.

– With Jessie Diggins was a bad ski. He worked really hard, but fell off the bow. I saw that there were problems with the grip.

Diggins was tenth in the race and suffered from similar grip problems Rosie Brennan the thirteenth.