Joni Mäki saw Iivo Niskanen’s fall from close range. He set his own race.
Iivo Niskanen fell on Friday in the World Cup. Jussi Saarinen
– He pulled straight into the fences. I wondered what happened, national team skier Joni Mäki times.
Mäki saw on Friday when Iivo Niskanen crashed in the 10 km free race of the Les Rousses World Cup. Mäki skied behind Niskanen until the Olympic champion went upside down in a U-shaped bend.
– Iivo braked before the turn. The speed was so much that no matter how he stepped, he didn’t turn from it.
The track turns back after the bend, so the World Cup medalist had time to take a look at how Niskanen is doing.
– About 400 meters later, you will be met on the track. I checked that the guy is still in the same position.
– Fortunately, the fences stopped it, and it wasn’t worse.
Earlier in the race, he also crashed in the same corner Arsi Ruuskanen. The U-shaped bend is steep.
– Ice in the bend and then a snow bank. Everyone slides and tries to turn through the embankment to land, Mäki explains.
Niskanen was able to ski to the finish line of the race. However, he admitted in an interview with Viaplay that the rest of the journey was no longer competitive skiing. Niskanen was the second last and remained the winner About Harald Amundsen almost three and a half minutes.
“weak”
Iivo Niskanen was really serious after the fall. The Skiing World Cup can be watched on Elisa Viihde Viaplay and V Sport channels.
Mäki was 44th in the race. The gap to the top was one and a half minutes.
Mäki, who won silver in the 15 km and sprint championships last week, was not satisfied with his performance.
– It was pretty weak. I expected a better result. Didn’t start moving at any point.
Mäki’s tactic was to move quietly and take advantage of the pees. Niskanen’s fall watered down the plan.
– After that, I had to ski a lap alone. It was a pretty weak run. The last kilometer was ok.
Joni Mäki expected a better result. Jussi Saarinen
The World Cup medalist skied three races last weekend. He wonders if you can still feel the dawn. The Finnish team traveled to France only two days ago.
– It could be that this came quite quickly. I don’t know if I was quite ready.
Mäki will compete next time on Saturday in the sprint of the traditional skiing style, which should be more suitable for free time. He knows that he has to be careful on the track.
– At the end there are some curves on top of the hill. You have to be careful at which point you count the crowd.
The sprint qualifiers will be skied on Saturday at 12:00.