The Finn has been able to do only one high-quality training session after the reign of the World Championships.
Iivo Niskanen31, a challenging 2022-23 international competition season came close to ending with the disappointment of Planica’s World Cup reign.
– It was hard for me to get here to Lahti. It was a basic flu and it lasted quite a long time. I didn’t bother to measure the fever, says the Finn who got sick after the Slovenian gig.
– One more high-quality exercise is behind us, he adds.
The Finn’s season ends in the same spirit as it began: surrounded by health problems.
Before the start of the World Cup at the end of November, Savolainen fell ill with corona. He was able to compete for the first time on the last day of the year at the Tour de Ski.
One ball seat
Iivo Niskanen told about his situation on Friday evening at the press conference of the Finnish team in Vierumäki. PASI LEISMA
57, 14, suspension, 68, 2, 12, 13 and 6. That’s Niskanen’s rankings in this season’s World Cup and World Championships personal trips.
– Of course, it’s a shame when after the corona everything was dependent on one card. Planica’s message had a good bet, but when the main trip went the way it did, of course disappointment is the overriding feeling.
The 50-year-old 2018 Olympic champion was sixth on the same trip in Slovenia. He lost his grip on the medal at the end of the race.
– There have been challenging trips this season. I would have liked to ski at least one traditional intermediate start.
Niskanen was part of the Tour de Ski in the traditional top ten intermediate start, but he stopped the race.
Great balance
Niskanen was sixth in his main race of the season at the 50 km traditional mass start in Planica. PASI LEISMA
So far, the only individual podium place of the season came in the 20 km traditional mass start of the Les Rousses World Cup in January. A similar competition format will be held in Lahti on Sunday.
– I hope I can make a good performance on Sunday, but in this situation I can’t achieve it. The basic level should be such that a good place is possible.
In Les Rousses, Niskanen tore Johannes Kläbon with out of the main crowd.
– In terms of landscape, the soupy Lahti is different from Napsu in France. I suppose it might be a bit tougher than in France. You have to be constantly aware of what is happening during the competition. Hopefully there will be heavy weather on Sunday.
After his breakthrough in 2014, Niskanen has competed in Lahti’s terrains in the World Cup, the World Championships and the Scandinavian Cup in the traditional 15 km split start five times. The balance is wild: four wins and one second place.
– This is one of the finest competition venues. I mainly have good memories of Lahti.