Remi Lindholm and Krista Pärmäkoski gave form announcement yesterday. Today it is the sprint skiers’ turn. The eyes are mainly on Johanna Matintalo, who feels like Finland’s sharpest card in the WC sprint in Planica in just over a month.
At 10.40 FM on skis, the final session in classic sprint
Commentators: Chriso Vuojärvi and Andrea Julin
Johanna Matintalo showed proof of her sprinting ability in the World Cup in Beitostølen in December when she was third. Then did not compete for over a month. The comeback happened yesterday and left a lot to be desired. She was no better than seventh in the free miles in Tampere.
Significantly better rates are expected from Matintalo today. Because the challengers don’t give up. Katri Lylynperä was among the top ten in the WC sprint two years ago in Oberstdorf and Jasmin Kähärä has three times been among the top 18 in the World Cup this winter.
Reigning champion Jasmi Joensuu, on the other hand, has refused. She chooses to focus on the World Cup weekend in France next week.
Will Joni Mäki become double champion?
Joni Mäki is one of the weekend’s big winners. He led the Pohti Ski Team to gold as an anchor skier in Friday’s sprint relay and yesterday he won silver in the 15 kilometer race. The Vasabördige Mäki shoulders the biggest favorite print today.
Club mate Niilo Moilanen is another hot medal candidate. The former junior world champion has started to take over in the senior classes. The high water mark was eighth place in the World Cup sprint in Beitostølen.
Johanna Matintalo’s partner Lauri Vuorinen has not reached his best level this winter. He won his only FM gold in the sprint two years ago and even then the skiing technique was classic. Vuorinen is one of the skaters who would like to give a form statement before the WC in Planica.
Another former sprint champion, Ristomatti Hakola, has had a rough season to say the least. Hakola crashed during the final stage of the team sprint and we got no indication whatsoever of how sharp his form is. He has done well in the past in classic sprints so it would not be a sensation if he were to join the medal fight.
At 14.10 World Cup, team sprint in free technique
Commentator: Leif Lampenius
In Tampere-FM, you compete all the way in branches that are on the winter WC programme. In the Livigno World Cup today, they also do it. The event is a sprint relay in free technique.
Saturday’s festive final session on the interesting and demanding high-altitude track in Livigno naturally also gave some signals for today’s team sprint. Mainly quite expected ones. But there are also upstarts, the young provocateurs of the individual sprint.
Sweden’s first team on the women’s side consists of Emma Ribom and Jonna Sundling, Linn Svahn and Maja Dahlqvist were nominated for the second team. Duos that bring to mind sports at the highest elite level – and that’s exactly what it’s all about.
Can anyone challenge? Hardly, then it is for this someone to defeat Sundling on the last stage. It won’t be Nadine Fähndrich, she has announced that she is too tired to compete today. USA’s Rosie Brennan and Julia Kern are pretty clear contenders for a podium spot.
Of the two Norwegian teams, the young one, after Saturday’s courageous ride, feels like the big nation’s surprise in Livigno. It consists of Hanne Rofstad and junior world champion Maria Melling. But the sprint relay with its short breaks is of course not the same discipline as Saturday’s individual.
Emma Ribom, Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist are world-class Swedish sprinters.
Image: EPA-EFE/KIMMO BRANDT
Emma Ribom, Jonna Sundling, Maja Dahlqvist
Among the men, there are at least eight teams in the bid. Norway’s number one is great but not at all unbeatable – Johannes Klæbo abstains this time. Even Northug and Erik Valnes form the first team, while Håvard Taugbøl and Sindre Skar form the equally strong second team.
However, it does not have to be Norway at the top of the podium at all. France has two respectable teams, Renaud Jay/Richard Jouve and Jules Chappaz/Lucas Chanavat. Jouve and Jay even sail up as the biggest favorites after the enormous effort yesterday.
Federico Pellegrino gets the all-rounder Francesco de Fabiani as a teammate in the home duo. Again. For de Fabiani, the sprint relay is one of the real specialties. A team to watch out for.
Like the Swiss finalists Janik Riebli and Valerio Grond who were so sincerely excited yesterday. Young people who are currently taking their most significant steps.
And the challengers then? Yes, there should always be at least two of these. Marcus Grate and Edvin Anger from Sweden did not get a full dividend yesterday. They absolutely want to challenge. Just like Americans Will Koch and Kevin Bolger.
