Remi Lindholm’s WC gene rope was no highlight. He was no better than sixth in the ten kilometer classic in the Finnish Cup in Vantaa. The victory went to Lauri Lepistö.
The battle for victory was between Lepistö and Ville Ahonen, who, like Remi Lindholm, is ready for the WC in Planica. Halfway into the race, Ahonen had the best intermediate time, but Lepistö distributed his forces better. Lepistö won with four seconds to spare on second place Ahonen.
– It was a fast competition. I wondered during the first lap if I had started too hard, but it worked out, says Lepistö to Yle.
The fact that he did not make the Finnish World Cup squad has not upset him significantly.
– I haven’t been in top form in the last month. If I had been in good shape it would have been a different matter. At least it’s going in a better direction – I’m doing everything to be in the top 20 in the World Cup races this spring.
Remi Lindholm did not depress
Remi Lindholm’s conditions were not the best in Vantaa. Most of his ski pairs are in Central Europe with the national team’s service team and a couple of weeks ago he had to cancel the World Cup weekend in Les Rousses due to an allergic reaction.
– My eyes closed again and I couldn’t breathe properly. Since then I have been training well. It feels perfectly fine – I’m not far from top form, he tells Yle.
His chances of fighting for a podium finish in Vantaa today were ruined by a broken pole.
– I didn’t have my best day. During the second lap I hit the pole in a hole and it broke. I rode for a couple of minutes with a stick, he says.
Remi Lindholm didn’t hang his lip after the competition.
Image: Lehtikuva
Remi Lindholm
Lindholm’s first start in the WC is in thirteen days. The objective in Planica is already clear: To place among the top ten.
– It might sound stupid after a sixth place in the Finnish Cup, but I don’t think it should be impossible.
World Cup-ready Ristomatti Hakola gave back. Hakola, who has had injuries and health problems all season, is feverish and could not compete in today’s competition.
Anni Alakoski won the ladies’ mile
The battle in the ladies’ classic mile looked to be really close halfway into the race. Several skaters were in close contention, but three familiar names rose to the podium in the end.
Anni Alakoski won and took the lead in the summary in the Finnish Cup. Vilma Nissinen finished strongly and took second place. Anni Kainulainen was third.
– The last kilometers were heavy. I’ve had a cold so it felt good to have a good race, says Nissinen.
WC champion Katri Lylynperä was unable to perform at the level that might have been expected and she had to settle for seventh place with almost a minute to spare.
Finnish Cup in cross-country skiing
Men’s 10 km classic:
1. Lauri Lepistö 26.21,3
2. Ville Ahonen +4.3
3. Joonas Sarkkinen +27.1
4. Miro Karpanen +27.3
5. Markus Vuorela +35.6
6. Remi Lindholm +38.9
13. Kalle Parantainen IF Minken +1.00,8
18. August Högnabba IF Minken +1.24,6
26. Alexander Ståhlberg IF Minken +1.40,7
Women’s 10 km classic:
1. Anni Alakoski 30.46,8
2. Vilma Nissinen +12.06
3. Anni Kainulainen +17.7
4. Emmi Lämsä +34.9
5. Johanna Ukkola +44.5
21. Julia Häger IF Minken +2.50,2
22. Sandra Jordman IF Minken +3.01,1
30. Felicia Krook Vörå IF +4.04,5
