Posts by Gary Ward20

Does anyone happen to know why Klaebo wasn't at the starting line today? And what on earth went down in the women's race—how did Karlsson end up sitting in 8th place? I haven't had a chance to watch the races yet...

How on earth is it possible that there is absolutely zero mention of makeup dates for the races scheduled in France and Aspen? It’s just completely silent... I was equally baffled by how they managed to cancel a whole string of women's ski jumping events without even a whisper of a plan for rescheduling them...

neonjackal2 said:I honestly think she might just pull the plug on the rest of the Tour de Ski. Those three minutes are going to absolutely wreck her standing. It feels incredibly harsh...

And it looks like nepray is taking the lead; she’s heading into the finals of the classic sprint.

I am sincerely hoping the Swedish team files an official protest and that it actually holds water, because I truly believe Karlsson still has plenty to offer this Tour de Ski. You could see it clearly during yesterday's climb—she is easily the strongest athlete out there, and she remains my top pick for the Aspen finale. Regardless, I don't see any logical reason for her to withdraw at this stage. There are still two distance races left on the schedule, and even without a penalty reduction, I suspect she can fight her way into the top 15, or perhaps even the top 10. Either way, there are significant points available for the SK. With Johaug missing so many races this year, there is a legitimate shot at winning the SK overall. If we were looking at four or five more races, including some sprints to close out the Tour de Ski, then maybe I would understand the urge to quit... but as it stands, I believe the potential reward of finishing those two remaining races far outweighs the risk of staying in...

neonjackal2 said:The last time he actually pulled off a freestyle win was back in 2017. He tends to fare much better in the longer distances when they’re using the classic technique.

I suppose I shall attempt to argue the opposite, though whatever the outcome may be...

I wasn't aware of that specific statistic; I actually went to verify it because it struck me as somewhat unrealistic at first glance. However, upon further reflection, aside from the stages in the Tour de Ski, most distance races in the World Cup are individual starts. Klaebo simply lacks the sheer endurance required to consistently challenge the leaders in an individual start format. In mass starts at 9.3 miles, where the race effectively boils down to a frantic 3-4 kilometer sprint, perhaps only Bolshunov can truly match his pace. But once you get into those grueling mass starts at 30 or 31 miles kilometers, that is an entirely different matter altogether...

neonjackal2 said:The betting odds have Klaebo as a massive favorite today—way more so than Niskanen was just a few days ago—but they aren't even racing a sprint. I truly don't get the logic here... it isn't a pursuit race, is it? They aren't going to be adding time penalties to his current lead over the rest of the field, right?

Or perhaps he's simply the favorite because of his prowess in distance racing. 😁

Look, this is a freestyle mass start. In men's racing, which is incredibly tight right now, these types of races almost always boil down to a pack of about ten athletes deciding the winner in the final kilometer. Usually, it all comes down to a frantic sprint between three or four guys, and you can bet your life Bolshunov and Klaebo will be right there in the mix...

There is an undeniable lack of skiathlons and legitimate distance races in the schedule. I honestly cannot fathom why the organizers failed to include even a single skiathlon in this year’s Tour de Ski program, opting instead for a mass start in Aspen... It is quite baffling. Incorporating just one more skiathlon would have fundamentally transformed the entire dynamic of the Tour de Ski.
At this point, Diggins has already pulled ahead of Karlsson by a full 1:07.

I honestly believe Diggins can throw some serious shade at Karlsson, mostly because we’re looking at just one individual start for distance, even if it is classical style.
I have no idea why they didn't make that final climb a pursuit instead of giving us three mass starts. If Diggins manages to sharpen her sprinting and can just hang with Karlsson during those mass starts, I think we're in for a very interesting TDS. Unfortunately, given this specific lineup of talent, without any real distance races, it’s going to be tough for skiers like Kruger to really make their mark.

It is frankly a shame what they’ve turned the TDS into... I still remember that legendary pursuit by Cortina Toblach that stretched over 19 miles through the woods. Now *that* was the real Tour de France to me.

Paul White62 said:The debate is finally settled; people are only watching today's classic race to chase after the standings.
While Frida beat Johaug by a decent margin, I suspect Johaug is merely pacing herself specifically for the Olympics this season, but...
it’s always impressive to see someone dominate on distance, and Henning took third for Germany.👍

At m Ivo once again proved he's a master of the classic technique, though the top ten was essentially a standoff between Russians and Norwegians, with him acting as the wild card. It seems we are in for a long season of constant Russian vs Norwegian battles.

I honestly can't wrap my head around why they scrapped the Hand triple. Those segments always had a certain charm and provided such a unique spark to the start of the season...
Karlsson seems determined to go all-in on the World Cup title this year. When you consider that even in peak form, she stands little chance at Olympic gold alongside Johaug—though she might snag a medal even with average form—the strategy to hunt the Tour de Ski and the Ski circuit this year makes perfect sense if that's her endgame.
Erik Valnes was surprisingly strong today. I didn't think he had the capacity to contend at the top of the pack on distance.

Paul White62 said:On Saturday... 6.2 miles The standard protocol dictates that one ought to make an appearance, though I am increasingly convinced that such a rule applies exclusively to the Winter Olympics and the final stretch of the SKU this season...

The schedule indicates that cross-country skiing is slated for Sunday, but I find myself questioning if I have misread the documentation... or perhaps there is an error in the planning itself. If that is indeed the case, how exactly does one intend to coordinate the logistics for the cross-country portion? Furthermore, what are the specific eligibility requirements regarding who is actually permitted to participate in such an event?

It looks like Lindsey Kildex isn't on the starting list for tomorrow. Does this mean she’s out for the entire weekend in Ruk, or have the rules changed such that she can actually compete in the distance races?