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January 01, 2013 – Canadian Men – told you the lactate monkey would be gone – those guys are starting to look like last year. I’ve now watched Valjas a number of times and it is like the pack goes to sleep and all of a sudden he explodes on them at the finish line. He is a very advanced skier mentally, strategically and tactically for such a young guy. He always seems to be in the right place at the right, like his leg split finish today and just being a few strides behind Cologna when he tripped himself and Lenny slid around him. Got quite the future in front of him.
Kikkan and the Ladies Team – Last year she was on the podium a total of 5 times – she is already at 7 podiums this year. So, much for that foot thing that happened – what foot thing?? Also, what was the beat down at the last part of the final sprint about – WOW, did she ever put a trip on the rest of the field – 8.8 seconds!!! That was huge! You other ladies I’m so impressed as the whole skiing world is – keep pounding on those guys over there – no mercy.
Val Mustair Sprint Course – simply one of the best courses on the Tour – all sorts of terrain, steep skiable uphill that made a big difference, fast turny downhills that could cost you, and plenty of places to pass. Kudos to the designers.
Ida Sargent – after three races on the TdS and Ida being home, she is still 27th in the overall WC standings.
Talk to You Soon!
January 1st, 2013 at 9:02 pm
Valjas rules! Also on my fantasy TDS team!
January 2nd, 2013 at 10:31 am
You forgot to mention that Jonsson and Halfvarsson also fell in the final. In fact, Jonsson fell in his quarterfinal as well. Another thing, Valjas false started in the final, but the officials didn’t stop the race. Even the British Eurosport guys were dumbfounded and laughing.
January 2nd, 2013 at 2:51 pm
Falling seems to be a part of sprint racing that no one likes—but it does happen—Joensson was amazing in the 1/4 final—-to fall and then qualify, impressive—just wasn’t his day.
There are so few false starts in the sprints that I think the starter was a sleep or like Lenny says–“He had it timed.”
As they say, “Shit happens.”
January 3rd, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Yes, shit happens. It just did when Emil Joensson fell in front of Alex at the QC Team Sprint final…
January 3rd, 2013 at 11:46 pm
That’s totally different, Denis. Marty I disagree with you about false starts. There are A LOT of false starts at the World Cup (maybe you were being sarcastic). The problem is the starters who don’t bring the skiers back. Obviously not the skiers’ fault, they aren’t gonna bring themselves back. One way or another, Valjas had everything going for him that day, false starts, skiers falling/and or tripping around him, great skis, etc. Not hating, just stating what I saw at the race.