Reijo Jylhä summarizes the main topics of the opening stage of the Tour de Ski.

Iltalehti’s ski expert living in Rovaniemi Reijo Jylhä has been watching for the last two years with a magnifying glass, when the Rovaniemi resident Jasmi Joensuu has chased to become the world’s leading sprint skier.

– You can say that focusing on things and getting the job done has shone from Jasmi. I can’t say exactly what happened before, but at least now the professionalism has clicked into place, says Jylhä.

The Vantaa Ski Club’s woman is coached by the head coach of the Vantaa Ski Club Kalmer Tram. In Rovaniemi, Joensuu is helped by a coach Janne Hyyppä and an expert in physiotherapy Jukka Salo.

– When you think about challenges and weaknesses, Juka’s role has been quite big. Even though it’s a small thing, the impact is big: Jasmi has had speed and strength, but with Juka’s lessons, her body control has clearly improved, Jylhä says.

– Kalmar is in daily contact, but he has given Jukalla and Janne room to operate. Jasmin’s team in physical training has been successful in the last two years, the expert clarifies.

Like at home

Jasmi Joensuu’s body control has improved, says Reijo Jylhä. Jussi Saarinen

On Saturday, Joensuu took the first mc-ball place of his career with a formula familiar from the domestic games: run away during the journey, so that the slight softness in the final stretch is not visible.

– Jasmin’s leap up the steep hill was convincing on Saturday, downright dazzling in the quarterfinals. He got away a little with his jump in each set.

Not to take anything away from Joensuu’s performance, but it can be said that on Saturday in Italy the place in the ball was easier than in any other race. About sprint cannons Jonna Sundling and Kristine Skistad are on the sidelines from the Tour, Linn Svahn is low-spirited, Maja Dahlqvist broke his pole in the final and in addition the Swedish ski service failed collectively on Saturday in Toblach.

– Three Finnish women were in the semi-finals and only one Swedish. I wouldn’t have handled this in advance, Jylhä illustrates.

For maintenance, the pole ten

The Finnish maintenance team led by Heikki Tonter succeeded in the boot country on Saturday. Jussi Saarinen

to Joensuu, Kerttu Niskanen and Niilo Moilanen career best finish in free sprint. Lauri Vuorinen and Jasmin Kähärä to the semi-finals.

– Suomi maintenance group has been very successful in Toblach in the past, of course it has been bad there at times. That’s what it takes to get to the podium, that the stars have to be aligned.

Along with Finland, the Swiss service group was on strike on Saturday. Kellomaa got two athletes to the ball and a total of four to the finals.

– I would also note the competition height. That is the strength of the Swiss. In Italy too. Seven Italian men advanced from qualifying.

In Toblach, the competition takes place at approximately 1,200 meters above sea level.

A terrible loss

Arsi Ruuskanen suffered a crushing defeat. Jussi Saarinen

Many Finnish skiing fans wondered how one of the country’s leading men’s skiers Arsi Ruuskanen may lost in the sprint time trial at a distance of about 1.4 kilometers by almost 19 seconds to the fastest man.

– Performance is not Ars’ strength. I remember him Matti Heikkinen. He was often found at the other end of the sprint result list at the Tour. Still, Matti was reasonably fast when hitting the hoe. In the sprint, he just didn’t get anywhere, commented Jylhä.

– Ruuskanen never skis sprints hard. He is an endurance machine. The expert adds, in the Tour-style race at the end of the race, he has a good time.

THE FACTS

Free sprint, results

Ladies:

1. Jessie Diggins (USA), 2:59.62

2. Jasmi Joensuu, +0.31

3. Nadine Fähndrich (SUI), + 0.47

4. Kristin Fosnæs (NOR), +0.56

5. Anja Weber (SUI), +1.42

6. Maja Dahlqvist (SWE), +45.76

—-

9. Kerttu Niskanen

11. Jasmin Kähärä

24. Krista Pärmäkoski

42. Johanna Matintalo

Gentlemen:

1. Johannes Klæbo (NOR), 2:32,34

2. Lucas Chanavat (FRA), +0.42

3. Janik Riebli (SUI), +0.49

4. Richard Jouve (FRA), +7.10

5. Valerio Grond (SUI), +13.41

6. Ben Ogden (USA), +13.52

—-

8. Lauri Vuorinen

12. Niilo Moilanen

43. Niko Anttola

86. Arsi Ruuskanen

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