JonPhi

We‘re ready

Due to the Covid-19 situation the World Cup in Les Rousses (FRA) is cancelled. COOP FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Les Rousses (FRA) cancelled Because of growing concerns to hold international events in the current pandemic situation and the virulence of the Omicron variant, the organizing committee of Les Rousses (FRA), the French Ski Federation and the National Authorities took the decision to cancel the FIS Cross-Country World Cup that was scheduled to take place from 14th to 16th January 2021. Despite all efforts, the changing restrictions and new regulations coming did not guarantee the safety of all stakeholders and therefore the decision was taken in advance.

Next year

Things are still not looking good for us in Oberhof. Tomorrow there should be a cold snap with snow. We hope that the team will manage to prepare everything tomorrow. Thursday there has to be a training before the sprint races. If not, In the worst case the mixed relays have to be cancelled. https://www.bergfex.de/oberhof/webcams/c2395/

Honestly, I'm not surprised that Neprayeva is doing it. She was already really strong on the mountain two years ago. Diggins is surprisingly weak, since Oberstdorf she's not doing anything at all.

Men‘s Sprint on Thursday is cancelled due to the warm weather conditions and rescheduled to Friday, 07. January 11:30 CET: https://www.biathlonworld.com/news/schedule-change-oberhof-covid/7a0vyxcXXBaeO4QrU6PASc

Tiril Eckhoff is sick and will miss Oberhof, but therefore will be racing in Ruhpolding.

2020 she was the fourth fastest. Faster than Diggins by the way …

Diggins is out for the Tour, the gap is too big. 30 seconds to Andersson and 1:42 to Neprayeva.

It seems to be really really windy in the Biathlon Stadium And some interesting tracks there: https://www.ruptly.tv/en/videos/20211228-033-China-Preparations-for-2022-Winter-Olympics-Biathlon-underway-in-Zhangjiakou

Skottheim also done nothing after her podium last season. She will never go to the Olympics. She is only nominated for the Mixed Relays in Oberhof not for the sprint. Mona Brorsson is at the Moment clear the 3rd best Sweden in the World Cup Tour (Persson missed 2 races) and after the two Oebergs the only one who have a direct qualification for the Mass Start. Brorsson have to go to the Olympics, without any discussions. It's basically a big question for me why Magnusson is already nominated but not Brorsson. Brorsson made top11 3x this season, while Magnusson was only 2x 12th. Especially since Magnusson has nothing to show in results last year.

Petter Northug, meanwhile, is sniffing against the FIS and believes that the FIS is destroying the Tour de Ski with a 3-minute penalty, as they are shooting down a Tour candidate just because someone brings her down in conditions that are not easy. In his opinion a Ranked at Last would have been enough, because she already loses enough time.

Neprayeva Disappointing no podium for Lampic.

3 minutes for Karlsson, I think she will quit the Tour. But bad for Diggins: Neprayeva, Sorina and Niskanen could take the lead now.

For Karlsson is the Tour over that will be a yellow card

The Sprint tomorrow will be the second key event in the Tour. It‘s classic style and a tuff course. Time you will lose tomorrow will be hard to gain in Val Di Fiemme.

Pictures from the Biathlon Stadium: http://www.news.cn/english/20211228/cc41e5425ab742358fba488e8f9d89cc/c.html

Also some of the Olympic Starters will miss Antholz. Could be Norwegian success days in Antholz.

The FIS is so stupid … The event was cancelled in the last 10 years in: 2012, 2014, 2016 (Slalom), 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 …

Yulia Stupak and Simen Hegstad Krüger will already leave the Tour de Ski. The same considerations exist with Natalia Neprayeva and Frida Karlsson according to the German cross-country portal. Johannes Klæbo, on the other hand, wants to finish it now.

Most of the Olympic Athletes will also miss Antholz. They will go to Training in Val Martello.

The Sprint at the Olympics will be really tough, this could be an advantage for Diggins and her Distance skills.

They will leave the Tour after Lenzerheide. For me incomprehensible why you do not take Oberstdorf and thus lose important points in the Sprint World Cup. Before the Olympics, there is only one more sprint in Les Rousses.

Today 18:15

Mikaela Shiffrin COVID POSITIVE!