The quarrel between Jasmi Joensuu and Aino-Kaisa Saarinen

National team skier Jasmi Joensuu and the 2009 World Ski Champion Aino-Kaisa Saarinen are in a war of words.

– Aino-Kaisa could listen to the interviews and understand things correctly, Joensuu announces.

Saarinen, who works as an expert for Yleisradio, said on Saturday that an award-winning journalist from Pori wrote a book about him in the story, that “Jasmi’s focus and concentration are on the wrong things if she reads afternoon newspapers between sets. We should get rid of this kind of activity”.

– I do everything but read the tabloids between sprint qualifying and heats. I can promise that I won’t focus on them between races, says Joensuu.

“Kohu” started on Saturday, when Joensuu commented to Viaplay like this:

– Even though IL and IS write that it’s a disaster day, you have to remember that everyone here at the Tour is in peak condition and we’re working.

What is media criticism about?

– I don’t know what was written after the qualifiers. It was more about the fact that it is usually the case that if things go badly, we write about the disaster, Joensuu answers.

Do you feel that the tabloids treat skiers badly?

– It’s not my business to judge.

Let’s say it again: Did you read the tabloids on Saturday between the sprint qualifying and heats?

– I did not read.

So Saarinen’s comment was unwarranted?

– Aino-Kaisa had misunderstood.

A reasonable bet

Joensuu skied to 23rd place on Sunday in Toblach on stage 2/7 of the Tour de Ski. The competition was 10 kilometers with an intermediate start in the traditional style.

– Pretty good. I would be satisfied if I was in the top 20, Joensuu said before all the racing sisters had finished.

At the beginning of the season, in the traditional top ten of the Ruka World Cup, Joensuu was in 16th place. The difference to the winner, Ebba Andersson, was 1.04.1. On Sunday, the difference to the winner Kerttu Niskanen was 1:29.7.

– Ruka was not burdened by the disease. Now Corona is behind us. But the condition is still good.

Joensuu’s career’s best regular distance finish is tenth.