len wrote:
Evo Niskanin wins 50 K classic. Followed by two OAR athletes which given Russia's history makes me wonder if they were doped. Happy for the Finns who seem to have struggled with cross country in the last few decades.
Here is the interesting historical context. Finland celebrated its 100th year of independence from Russia on Dec 6th....today Listanen skied away from the Russians for the gold. An excruciating 4th again for Canada by Alex Harvey in 2018, just like Devon Kershaw at 2010 Whistler. I really enjoyed the tactics and ski change "pit zone"....it was just like formula 1 racing with pilots and pit crews trying to decide on optimal equipment tactics vs time losses of "tire changes". I don't think Alex Harvey from Canada took the last lap ski change (or maybe he used his changes earlier), but on the last climb when Larkov took off on Sundby and Harvey, you could see both of their skis slipping and both went into a herringbone climb, and Larkov looked like he put 5 seconds on them between the climb and downhill. Listanen's tactics in terms of changing skis paid off. That medal from Finland was truly a team effort between the athlete and pit crew. You never know if the wax is going to be "that much better" until you find out. I heard on the commentary that the Finnish pit crew decided to change the grip wax for hard wax vs Klister since the hard grip wax glides better (but it grips less well in conditions that are icy/wet).
In any case, chapeau to Finland, while a little bummed that Alex Harvey maybe finishes his olympic career with no medals after all those world cup and world championships. My personal connection to the Harvey family was from Alex's dad Pierre. Pierre raced in road cycling in the LA Olympics and XC skiing at the Sarajevo Olympics (both in 1984). Pierre won the first triathlon I did back in 1985. I actually beat him out of the water and then watched this guy ride by with what looked like a motor on. In any case, I had no clue who he was at that time till the finish line and started talking to him and he told me to get some skis, learn how to do it, and my engine on the bike and run would be better. So I did and had a great 30 year run in the sport. Fast forward to 2007 at the 50K at XC ski Nationals, Alex Harvey and Devon Kershaw lapped me at my 39.5K.....my goal was to not be lapped, in the 5x10K course, but got to watch them in the sprint finish from the tourist lane on the other side of the stadium! Our sports are cool because we can be in the same race on the same course as the Olympians!