Interesting race development: Relay men

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 04 Mar 2011@14:39


A lot happened during the first legs of the mens relay – take a look at the race development graph for the mens relay to see how it all developed (see also interactive version of the race development graph). There are 10 splits for each leg – and a flat line means that a skier had the best time on that split. Take a look at how Norway and Germany got into the race again after loosing time – and how Russia’s Legkov lost it big time on the third leg!

Some observations:

  • Martin Johnsrud Sundby lost 20+ seconds on the last part of the second leg – but was saved by Rønning on the third leg.
  • Södergren and Gjerdalen ski very slowly at the first part of the third leg – being caught by a big group of teams. On the other hand, Legkov who was central in chasing down the two Scandinavians in the lead gets crushed in the last part of the leg – loosing a whooping 2+ minutes!
  • Germany was far off already halfway through the first leg, but got back into the lead after the slow skiing of Södergren and Gjerdalen on the first half of the third leg.
  • Finland, Japan and Italy do a very good race on the  second leg – bringing them up towards the lead group again.

Interactive race development graph and predictions:

Preview 50 km mass start men

(Note! This is a copy of the prediction preview article from here!)

Looking at the 50 km mass start events in free technique  in the World Cup and World Champs the last years, the Norwegian skier Northug has won the two last (Holmenkollen and Liberec) whereas Giorgio Di Centa (ITA)  won the one before (Pragelato). The 50 km mass starts have usually been decided in a sprint finish between several skiers, but not so in Holmenkollen last year. In that exciting mass start event Northug and Pietro Piller Cottrer (ITA)  got away from the rest, and decided the fight for gold between them. Down to Vincent Vittoz (FRA) in third there was a full 30 seconds. With the tough course in Holmenkollen – nearly 2000 meter of ascent – we might very well see one or a few skiers get away again.

The following are the favourites on the 50 km:

  • Petter Northug (NOR) is the big favourite – if he has power left after a long championships. The course is tough, but the fast Norwegian showed last year that he can win even the toughest 50 km race.
  • Maxim Vylegzhanin (RUS) was very strong at the 30 km pursuit – and showed with his silver medal on the 50 km mass start free technique at the World Champs in Liberec in 2009 that the 50 km is no problem for him. Count this strong Russian among the big favourites.
  • Tobias Angerer (GER) showed at the 30 km pursuit that he found his shape for Oslo – and can be a very dangerous man on a 50 km race. 3rd spot in Liberec in 2009 on the 50 km free mass start and 2nd spot in Trondheim in 2009 on the 50 km classic mass start.
  • The Swedish athletes will surely be hungry to show that what they can on the 50 km after waxing trouble in several races earlier in the championships. Marcus Hellner, Anders Södergren and Johan Olsson were all top 10 in Oslo at the 50 km mass start free technique last year.
  • Lukas Bauer (CZE) can be very strong in a 50 km, but free technique is not his favourite style and he is a lot stronger in interval start than in mass start. However, the course in Holmenkollen is so tough that he might manage to get away if he finds his top shape in time for Sunday…
  • Pietro Piller Cottrer (ITA) was very strong in Oslo last year, but has not been on the podium in the World Cup since. He finished 13th on the pursuit last weekend, and showed that his shape is not too bad. A man to look out for on the 50 km.
  • Vincent Vittoz (FRA) is a strong 50 km free technique skier who has had a lot of injury problems this year. He might surprise and even ski all the way to the top if he finds his shape in time for Sunday.
  • Dario Cologna (SUI) has not had a great championships – and the 50 km has not usually been his best discipline. However, don’t forget him among the favourites.

In addition to these, Dolidovich (BUL) , the Italian skiers and the Canadians (including Babikov) should not be forgotten. All in all, this is quite an open and exciting race  - thanks to the tough course profile.

Below you see the top 10 in the last 50 km races in the World Cup, World Champs and Olympics to help you identify your favourites.

13.03.2010: 50 km Free Mass start, Oslo, NOR

Full results

1. NORTHUG Petter jr. 2:09:18.5
2. PILLER COTTRER Pietro 2:09:21.4
3. VITTOZ Vincent 2:09:51.2
4. SOEDERGREN Anders 2:10:15.9
5. OLSSON Johan 2:10:24.5
6. GLAVATSKIKH Konstantin 2:10:30.5
7. CLARA Roland 2:10:33.9
8. HELLNER Marcus 2:10:47.2
9. BAJCICAK Martin 2:10:47.2
10. ELIASSEN Petter 2:11:08.1
28.02.2010: 50 km Classic Mass start, Whistler Olympic Park, CAN

Full results

1. NORTHUG Petter jr. 2:05:35.5
2. TEICHMANN Axel 2:05:35.8
3. OLSSON Johan 2:05:36.5
4. ANGERER Tobias 2:05:37.0
5. KERSHAW Devon 2:05:37.1
6. VEERPALU Andrus 2:05:41.6
7. RICKARDSSON Daniel 2:05:45.2
8. VYLEGZHANIN Maxim 2:05:46.4
9. SOEDERGREN Anders 2:05:47.1
10. COLOGNA Dario 2:05:47.5
14.03.2009: 50 km Classic Mass start, Trondheim, NOR

Full results

1. JAUHOJAERVI Sami 2:02:39.0
2. ANGERER Tobias 2:03:00.8
3. HARVEY Alex 2:03:12.2
4. VYLEGZHANIN Maxim 2:03:13.7
5. NORTHUG Petter jr. 2:03:29.3
6. VEERPALU Andrus 2:03:30.7
7. KERSHAW Devon 2:04:31.8
8. RICKARDSSON Daniel 2:04:33.8
9. FILBRICH Jens 2:04:37.4
10. BAUER Lukas 2:05:07.1
01.03.2009: 50 km Free Mass start, Liberec, CZE

Full results

1. NORTHUG Petter jr. 1:59:38.1
2. VYLEGZHANIN Maxim 1:59:38.8
3. ANGERER Tobias 1:59:40.1
4. DI CENTA Giorgio 1:59:42.1
5. DOLIDOVICH Sergei 1:59:43.7
6. SOMMERFELDT Rene 1:59:45.6
7. KOUKAL Martin 1:59:46.2
8. KATTILAKOSKI Teemu 1:59:46.5
9. VITTOZ Vincent 1:59:47.2
10. REHEMAA Aivar 1:59:47.3
08.03.2008: 50 km Free Interval start, Oslo, NOR

Full results

1. SOEDERGREN Anders 2:11:44.7
2. BAUER Lukas 2:14:17.2
3. FISCHER Remo 2:14:46.7
4. VITTOZ Vincent 2:14:46.9
5. PILLER COTTRER Pietro 2:15:21.2
6. JONNIER Emmanuel 2:16:38.9
7. BAJCICAK Martin 2:17:25.8
8. ANDRESEN Frode 2:17:33.2
9. OLSSON Johan 2:17:46.0
10. ANGERER Tobias 2:18:02.8
17.03.2007: 50 km Classic Interval start, Oslo, NOR

Full results

1. HJELMESET Odd-Bjoern 2:17:22.0
2. ANGERER Tobias 2:17:31.8
3. ESTIL Frode 2:17:53.8
4. SOMMERFELDT Rene 2:18:54.9
5. JAUHOJAERVI Sami 2:19:01.6
6. MAE Jaak 2:19:10.1
7. VYLEGZHANIN Maxim 2:19:22.5
8. DI CENTA Giorgio 2:19:36.7
9. NOUSIAINEN Ville 2:19:47.7
10. GJERDALEN Tord Asle 2:20:06.7
04.03.2007: 50 km Classic Mass start, Sapporo, JPN

Full results

1. HJELMESET Odd-Bjoern 2:20:12.6
2. ESTIL Frode 2:20:13.0
3. FILBRICH Jens 2:20:17.1
4. ANGERER Tobias 2:20:23.1
5. BAUER Lukas 2:20:25.7
6. BAJCICAK Martin 2:20:53.6
7. GAILLARD Jean Marc 2:21:36.6
8. MAE Jaak 2:21:46.2
9. PANKRATOV Nikolai 2:21:50.6
10. NOUSIAINEN Ville 2:22:27.5
11.03.2006: 50 km Free Interval start, Oslo, NOR

Full results

1. SOEDERGREN Anders 2:10:42.5
2. DI CENTA Giorgio 2:11:05.6
3. REICHELT Tom 2:11:25.5
4. JONNIER Emmanuel 2:11:35.8
5. AASEN Geir Ludvig 2:12:04.5
6. GAUSTAD John Anders 2:12:04.9
7. SKJELDAL Kristen 2:13:10.5
8. SIMILAE Tero 2:13:36.9
9. ESTIL Frode 2:14:08.2
10. CLARA Roland 2:14:11.6
26.02.2006: 50 km Free Mass start, Pragelato Plan, ITA

Full results

1. DI CENTA Giorgio 2:06:11.8
2. DEMENTIEV Eugeni 2:06:12.6
3. BOTVINOV Mikhail 2:06:12.7
4. JONNIER Emmanuel 2:06:13.5
5. PILLER COTTRER Pietro 2:06:14.0
6. SOEDERGREN Anders 2:06:14.1
7. KOUKAL Martin 2:06:14.9
8. MAGAL Jiri 2:06:15.1
9. VITTOZ Vincent 2:06:16.4
10. FREDRIKSSON Mathias 2:06:17.1
12.03.2005: 50 km Classic Interval start, Oslo, NOR

Full results

1. VEERPALU Andrus 2:10:25.2
2. FILBRICH Jens 2:10:53.1
3. HJELMESET Odd-Bjoern 2:10:53.6
4. BAJCICAK Martin 2:11:09.4
5. SOEDERGREN Anders 2:11:14.9
6. VYLEGZHANIN Maxim 2:11:22.1
7. ESTIL Frode 2:11:51.9
8. FREDRIKSSON Mathias 2:11:55.9
9. DI CENTA Giorgio 2:12:31.4
10. BAUER Lukas 2:12:37.3
27.02.2005: 50 km Classic Mass start, Oberstdorf, GER

Full results

1. ESTIL Frode 2:30:10.1
2. AUKLAND Anders 2:30:10.8
3. HJELMESET Odd-Bjoern 2:30:11.5
4. VEERPALU Andrus 2:30:15.1
5. FREDRIKSSON Mathias 2:30:18.3
6. SPERL Milan 2:30:18.6
7. SKJELDAL Kristen 2:30:18.7
8. BOTVINOV Mikhail 2:30:18.9
9. SOEDERGREN Anders 2:30:23.5
10. SCHLUETTER Andreas 2:30:26.8
28.02.2004: 50 km Free Interval start, Oslo, NOR

Full results

1. SOMMERFELDT Rene 2:04:41.8
2. VALBUSA Fulvio 2:05:37.5
3. BAUER Lukas 2:05:51.1
4. DI CENTA Giorgio 2:06:03.9
5. PILLER COTTRER Pietro 2:06:38.3
6. SKJELDAL Kristen 2:06:40.0
7. DEMENTIEV Eugeni 2:06:42.7
8. SANTUS Fabio 2:06:50.1
9. BAJCICAK Martin 2:07:19.0
10. BOTVINOV Mikhail 2:07:41.6
08.03.2003: 50 km Classic Interval start, Oslo, NOR

Full results

1. VEERPALU Andrus 2:16:57.5
2. AUKLAND Anders 2:17:32.3
3. NOUTRIKHINE Andrei 2:18:15.9
4. FREDRIKSSON Mathias 2:18:17.3
5. DI CENTA Giorgio 2:18:49.1
6. ESTIL Frode 2:20:03.0
7. HJELMESET Odd-Bjoern 2:20:31.1
8. SKJELDAL Kristen 2:20:46.9
9. MAE Jaak 2:21:02.6
10. ALSGAARD Thomas 2:21:22.9
01.03.2003: 50 km Free Interval start, Val di Fiemme, ITA

Full results

1. KOUKAL Martin 1:54:25.3
2. SOEDERGREN Anders 1:54:40.3
3. BRINK Joergen 1:55:09.0
4. FREDRIKSSON Mathias 1:55:25.2
5. SWENSON Carl 1:55:49.2
6. VITTOZ Vincent 1:55:59.9
7. HASLER Markus 1:56:10.2
8. KATTILAKOSKI Teemu 1:56:20.6
9. IMAI Hiroyuki 1:56:33.5
10. HOFFMANN Christian 1:56:43.0

No Comments

No comments yet.

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.