Race Preview & Predictions: Holmenkollen 50km/30km

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 15 Mar 2013@1:06

The traditional Holmenkollen races over 50/30 km are rated very highly among the World Cup skiers. This year there are only two 50/30 km long distance races on the World Cup calendar – the World Championships raced in classic techbnique and this Holmenkollen weekend raced in free technique.

For the usual tables with historical results, see see the preview article for the World Championships 30/50 km – where both free technique and classic technique races were listed.

In addition to the traditional tables, it is interesting to look at the “odds seeds” (see below) from Statistical Skier which gives a list of favourites for this weekends races based on previous results. Note that this does not take into account the start list ; i.e. Johan Olsson will not be on the start list (sick) – and neither will Lukas Bauer (racing Birkebeineren). Dario Cologna has been sick, and was at the time of writing not sure if he would start. The big favourite is Petter Northug – the Norwegian has shown impressive shape lately. The Russians Legkov and Vylegzhanin will fight hard for the victory – and also look out for Tobias Angerer.

In the womens class, Martin Bjørgen has been sick, and was not sure if she would start when this was written. Justyna Kowalczyk is not that strong in free technique, and therefore is probably Therese Johaug the big favourite. Add Heidi Weng who has been very strong lately – and also Kristin Størmer Steira.

Men Women
NORTHUG Petter BJOERGEN Marit
OLSSON Johan KOWALCZYK Justyna
GJERDALEN Tord Asle JOHAUG Therese
BAUER Lukas STEIRA Kristin Stoermer
VYLEGZHANIN Maxim SKOFTERUD Vibeke W
COLOGNA Dario KALLA Charlotte
RICKARDSSON Daniel HAAG Anna
ANGERER Tobias FESSEL Nicole
SOEDERGREN Anders ZELLER Katrin
ROETHE Sjur ROPONEN Riitta-Liisa
REICHELT Tom SHEVCHENKO Valentina
CHERNOUSOV Ilia LAHTEENMAKI Krista
BABIKOV Ivan RANDALL Kikkan
DI CENTA Giorgio STEPHEN Elizabeth
HARVEY Alex TCHEKALEVA Yulia
HELLNER Marcus SAARINEN Aino-Kaisa
ELIASSEN Petter NOVIKOVA Valentina
DOLIDOVICH Sergei DOTSENKO Anastasia
MORIGGL Thomas SARASOJA-LILJA Riikka
JOHNSRUD SUNDBY Martin JOHANSSON NORGREN Britta
NOUSIAINEN Ville JEZERSEK Barbara
CLARA Roland BROOKS Holly
GLAVATSKIKH Konstantin NYVLTOVA Eva
TSCHARNKE Tim LINDBORG Sara
DUVILLARD Robin KOLOMINA Elena
SIMILAE Tero HERMANN Denise
BAJCICAK Martin ORGUE Laura
YOSHIDA Keishin KOBAYASHI Yuki
REHEMAA Aivar MACIUSZEK Paulina
FISCHER Remo ANTSYBOR Maryna

Race Preview: Lahti World Cup sprint

Posted by Jan Kocbach, 08 Mar 2013@18:59

The World Champions in sprint from Val di Fiemme – Marit Bjørgen (Norway) and Nikita Kriukov (Russia) – are both on the start line in the Lahti free technique sprint on Saturday. Both Bjørgen and Kriukov have stronger results in classic technique – but still count among the favourites in Lahti on Saturday.

Except for Norwegian Eirik Brandsdal and Swedish Ida Ingemarsdotter, all the main favourites are on the start line in the Lahti sprint.

Men: Sweden back on top?

Jönsson and Peterson had very disappointing results and finished 31st and 77th respectively

Ahead of the Sochi sprint in free technique, the Swedes Emil Jönsson and Teodor Peterson were named the big favourites. Partly due to wax trouble, Jönsson and Peterson had very disappointing results and finished 31st and 77th respectively – and are both very eager to be back on top again. Emil Jönsson has two victories in this discipline this season while Teodor Peterson has also won a free technique sprint race this season. The Swedes will be up against Sochi winner Petter Northug (Norway) – 2nd in the World Champs sprint in Val di Fiemme, Dario Cologna (2nd in the Sochi sprint), Alexey Petukhov (twice in the final in free technique sprints this season) and Anders Glørsen (twice Top 5 in free technique sprints this season). Also look out for Len Valjas (Canada), Ola Vigen Hattested (Norway) and David Hofer (Italy).

Women duel: Randall against Bjørgen

Can the best free technique sprinter this season – Kikkan Randall – beat the World Champion Marit Bjørgen

The most interesting fight in the womens class will be Kikkan Randall against Marit Bjørgen: Can the best free technique sprinter this season – Kikkan Randall – beat the World Champion Marit Bjørgen? Also look out for Maiken Caspersen Falla (winner in the free technique sprint in Canmore before Christmas), Jean Aurore (the French surprise this season – improving steadily and so far topping it with a second place in Sochi in free technique sprint at the start of February), Ingvild Flugstad Østberg (three times Top 5 in free technique sprint this season) and the Germans Denise Hermann and Hanna Kolb (both Top 5 this season).

Men starters – historical results
Name 2013
Sochi
2013-02-01
SP F Final
2013
Val Muestair
2013-01-01
SP F Final
2012
Canmore
2012-12-15
SP F Final
2012
Quebec
2012-12-08
SP F Final
2012
Szklarska Poreba
2012-02-17
SP F Final
2012
Moscow
2012-02-02
SP 1.5 km F Final
2012
Milano
2012-01-14
SP F Final
2012
Toblach
2012-01-04
SP F Final
NORTHUG Petter jr. 1st 8th 2nd
JOENSSON Emil 31st 6th 1st 1st 62nd 16th 8th
KROGH Finn Haagen 1st
PETERSON Teodor 77th 48th 2nd 7th 1st 3rd 9th
MORILOV Nikolay 11th 19th 16th 2nd 4th 4th 1st
COLOGNA Dario 2nd 4th 8th 3rd
KERSHAW Devon 8th 15th 50th 34th 1st 3rd 13th
GLOEERSEN Anders 9th 2nd 4th 6th 2nd 13th
PELLEGRINO Federico 56th 2nd 6th 28th 9th 34th 9th 28th
BRANDSDAL Eirik 40th 7th 10th 10th 1st
HOFER David 3rd 21st 21st 29th 37th 20th 4th
VALJAS Len 20th 3rd 7th 46th 43rd 12th 14th
WENZL Josef 46th 36th 30th 11th 2nd 7th
PETUKHOV Alexey 6th 22nd 3rd 12th 14th 5th 5th
KRIUKOV Nikita 5th 3rd 12th 41st 20th 42nd
HATTESTAD Ola Vigen 44th 3rd 52nd 6th
NEWELL Andrew 13th 9th 5th 5th 22nd 22nd 26th
USTIUGOV Sergey 4th
HALFVARSSON Calle 5th 15th
STRANDVALL Matias 42nd 41st 39th 4th 8th 7th
DARRAGON Roddy 53rd 22nd 20th 11th 5th 21st 27th
HARVEY Alex 12th 52nd 21st 27th 9th 6th
CHERNOUSOV Ilia 7th 14th 11th
TSCHARNKE Tim 4th 15th
TRITSCHER Bernhard 16th 17th 12th 26th 32nd 25th 28th 17th
WURM Harald 10th 8th 27th 59th 59th 44th
GAFAROV Anton 12th 23rd 37th 19th 35th 11th
CHEBOTKO Nikolay 22nd 18th 39th 14th 52nd 12th
HELLNER Marcus 7th 31st 21st
RETIVYKH Gleb 39th 31st 56th 5th
MUSGRAVE Andrew 18th 11th 29th
VYLEGZHANIN Maxim 10th 11th 37th
KINDSCHI Joeri 34th 25th 6th 28th 17th 29th
PASINI Fabio 15th 20th 37th 71st 41st 38th 14th
JAEGER Martin 37th 14th 30th 14th 15th 18th
PENTSINEN Anssi 29th 18th 9th 21st 40th 22nd
SCOLA Fulvio 30th 24th 54th 15th 8th 32nd
JYLHAE Martti 50th 16th 17th 16th 23rd 24th
JAKS Martin 16th 17th 16th
DAHL John Kristian 74th 72nd 24th 6th
PETTERSEN Oeystein 32nd 34th 18th 7th 35th
EDIN Johan 71st 29th 8th 42nd 16th
POLTORANIN Alexey 28th 13th 48th
TAMBORNINO Eligius 23rd 27th 44th 26th 13th 31st
EIGENMANN Christoph 68th 17th 35th 24th 12th
HAMILTON Simeon 17th 33rd 29th 31st 19th
DEVJATIAROV Mikhail Jun. 33rd 10th 19th 27th
BRYNTESSON Robin 38th 10th 39th 17th
PARFENOV Andrey 14th 36th 53rd
LEGKOV Alexander 19th 22nd
GOLBERG Paal 13th 20th 30th
PERSSON Simon 61st 11th 48th 25th
COCKNEY Jesse 9th 32nd
DI CENTA Giorgio 23rd 18th
JAPAROV Dmitriy 19th 37th 26th 59th
FRASNELLI Loris 15th 18th 34th
NOECKLER Dietmar 36th 54th 54th 29th 48th 10th
PASINI Renato 61st 32nd 10th
STAREGA Maciej 46th 25th 35th 22nd
BOGDANOV Stanislav 72nd 32nd 52nd 19th 23rd
GROS Baptiste 13th 38th 41st
KUKLIN Mikhail 21st 45th
CLAUSEN Kent Ove 50th 13th 47th 48th
WIDMER Philip 15th 55th 35th
EISENLAUER Sebastian 24th 45th
MODIN Jesper 51st 28th 21st
HEDIGER Jovian 58th 26th 23rd 51st
NORTHUG Tomas 18th 32nd
DYRHAUG Niklas 40th 36th 19th
TEICHMANN Axel 25th 56th 34th
KOZISEK Dusan 43rd 20th 38th 55th
ANGERER Tobias 52nd 20th
LYKKJA Hans Petter 23rd
RENNEMO Kristian Tettli 23rd
ROENNING Eldar 47th 24th
DAVIS Skyler 24th 69th
KUMMEL Peeter 42nd 61st 25th 30th
RAZYM Ales 33rd 24th 46th
VOLOTKA Denis 38th 36th 25th 33rd
LUUSUA Ari 40th 25th
Women starters – historical results
Name 2013
Sochi
2013-02-01
SP F Final
2013
Val Müstair
2013-01-01
SP F Final
2012
Canmore
2012-12-15
SP F Final
2012
Quebec
2012-12-08
SP F Final
2012
Szklarska Poreba
2012-02-17
SP F Final
2012
Moscow
2012-02-02
SP 1.5 km F Final
2012
Milano
2012-01-14
SP F Final
2012
Toblach
2012-01-04
SP F Final
RANDALL Kikkan 1st 1st 2nd 1st 3rd 7th 2nd 2nd
INGEMARSDOTTER Ida 7th 9th 3rd 1st 8th 1st 27th
FALLA Maiken Caspersen 1st 2nd 2nd 16th 3rd
KOWALCZYK Justyna 43rd 7th 21st 16th 1st 3rd
OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad 2nd 5th 4th 13th 10th 7th
JEAN Aurore 2nd 9th 18th 25th 15th 20th 9th
BJOERGEN Marit 22nd 1st
BRUN-LIE Celine 3rd 3rd 34th 30th 29th
KOROSTELEVA Natalia 11th 19th 35th 6th 31st 2nd 26th 14th
WENG Heidi 3rd 15th 20th 17th 12th
HERRMANN Denise 14th 8th 4th 9th 11th 31st 19th 4th
JACOBSEN Astrid Uhrenholdt 4th 13th 5th 17th 17th
KOLB Hanna 9th 4th 17th 30th 17th 29th 8th
DOTSENKO Anastasia 22nd 29th 15th 19th 44th 3rd 16th
KYLLOENEN Anne 13th 26th 12th 7th 21st 14th 5th 20th
FABJAN Vesna 39th 16th 16th 26th 8th 27th 8th 5th
VAN DER GRAAFF Laurien 8th 12th 8th 31st 14th 18th 10th
MATVEEVA Natalia 28th 6th 13th 4th 23rd
LAUKKANEN Mari 5th
STEIRA Kristin Stoermer 5th 44th
SARGENT Ida 6th 10th 44th 46th 12th 43rd
DIGGINS Jessica 15th 17th 28th 23rd 6th 18th
KALLA Charlotte 6th 37th 11th
LAHTEENMAKI Krista 31st 20th 5th 13th
BARTHELEMY Laure 4th 23rd 36th
MALVALEHTO Mona-Lisa 30th 33rd 5th 50th 11th
SARASOJA-LILJA Riikka 11th 11th 14th 21st
SAARINEN Aino- Kaisa 42nd 4th 32nd
CRAWFORD Chandra 51st 6th 32nd 38th 36th 7th
JONES Perianne 18th 11th 38th 40th 24th 12th
NIKOLAEVA Svetlana 10th 37th 11th 55th 40th
GAIAZOVA Daria 12th 20th 41st 30th 22nd 25th
ZELLER Katrin 38th 20th 24th 9th 19th
VUERICH Gaia 19th 36th 15th 18th 41st 15th
FESSEL Nicole 20th 19th 9th 26th
SOEMSKAR Linn 40th 7th 33rd 32nd 9th
VISNAR Katja 27th 13th 13th 28th 45th 21st
BROOKS Holly 16th 18th 36th 30th
SMUTNA Katerina 15th 19th 33rd 18th
BRODIN Hanna 7th 40th 13th 41st
JOHAUG Therese 10th 29th
CEBASEK Alenka 29th 27th 29th 25th 12th 28th 22nd 31st
KRISTOFFERSEN Marthe 36th 34th 6th
EIDE Mari 58th 35th 6th
RINGWALD Sandra 17th 22nd 30th
PAJALA Magdalena 25th 8th 43rd 28th
PROCHAZKOVA Alena 24th 10th
WIKEN Emma 14th
ROPONEN Riitta-Liisa 23rd 19th 24th
BJORNSEN Sadie 21st 22nd 27th 39th 31st
NYVLTOVA Eva 26th 10th
GODOVANICHENKO Daria 26th 14th 37th
BROCARD Elisa 42nd 39th 42nd 21st 23rd 22nd
CALDWELL Sophie 23rd 14th
FALK Hanna 62nd 56th 10th
SHAPOVALOVA Evgenia 33rd 28th 12th 48th 42nd
AYMONIER Celia 24th 31st 21st
OEBERG Jennie 23rd 28th 38th
DEBERTOLIS Ilaria 21st 41st 37th 38th
GROENVOLL Maria Nysted 17th 27th
GRUBER Bettina 48th 27th 18th 33rd 36th
NISKANEN Kerttu 32nd 15th
STIFFLER Tatjana 65th 52nd 23rd 24th
ERIKSSON Mia 60th 48th 16th
SLONOVA Anastasia 55th 50th 16th 54th
STEPHEN Elizabeth 42nd 25th 47th 57th
NILSSON Stina 25th
KOLOMINA Yelena 52nd 56th 20th 49th 39th
BUILLET Marion 60th 54th 29th 49th 24th
GJEITNES Kari Vikhagen 36th 22nd
RORABAUGH Rebecca 44th 24th
IVANOVA Julia 43rd 25th 37th
AHERVO Laura 33rd 25th