Zhangjiakou (dpa) – Cross-country team boss Peter Schlickenrieder expects races under extreme conditions at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
“It will certainly be the most strenuous competition that the cross-country skier has ever seen. It has the most vertical meters. In addition, there are the conditions, which are currently on average at -15 degrees and with wind,” said the former athlete before the start of the Skiathlon women on Saturday.
He expects “demanding competitions for the cardiovascular system”. Schlickenrieder justified this with the route profile, which provides for some climbs on the Olympic facilities in Zhangjiakou. “The routes are highways,” said the 51-year-old. Germany’s cross-country skiers are only considered outsiders in the competitions.