Day 2: Saturday 2/27
Looks like forecast is some light rain overnight, but staying above freezing. It will be cooler than the sprint, but temps still get above 40f/4c. Waxing for the classic leg of the skiathlon will likely be tricky, although I personally have very little experience with classic waxing.
Women 7.5k+7.5K Skiathlon @ 5:45 am EST
Favorite here is undoubtedly Therese Johaug from Norway, especially if conditions are variable/tricky. The question in my mind is if she is able/wants to open up an appreciable gap on the classic leg (where she is excellent), and if anyone is able to stay with her. There are skiers in the field with better finishing speed than Therese, but rarely is anyone near her! For Norway I am also interested to see Helene Marie Fossesholm in her first senior worlds start. She is such an exciting skier to watch, and was second to Therese in Lahti. Heidi Weng is also a strong podium contender after a third in Lahti.
Other contenders for the podium could be Ebba Andersson from Sweden who had great distance races at the Tour de Ski, Frida Karlsson (SWE) if she is fully recovered from injury, and Natalia Nepryaeva and Yulia Stupak from Russia.
For the US Jessie Diggins is definitely a podium contender if she can start the skate leg with the main group. The US is also starting three exciting younger skiers in Hailey Swirbul, Sophia Laukli, and Katharine Ogden.
Picks:
1. Therese Johaug
2. Jessie Diggins (heart over head?)
3. Heidi Weng
Men 15k+15K Skiathlon @ 7:30 am EST
This is going to be the Norway vs. Russian Ski Federation show, hard to see anyone else being a factor. Alexander Bolshunov probably comes in as the slim favorite based on the World Cup distance races this year, but in Lahti Norwegians took the first four spots with Iversen, Roethe, Golberg (not starting at world champs), and Krueger. The Norwegians also have Klaebo, and if he is in in contention coming into the finish, no one would bet against him.
For the US, Scott Patterson and David Norris bring experience, with Hunter Wonders and Ben Ogden bringing youth. Ben had a great result in the sprint, so I'm excited to see what he does in a distance race. I expected to see Gus Schumacher on the list (top American in Lahti), but it sounds like he is racing the team sprint on Sunday with Simi.
ETA: Iivo Niskanen from Finland could also be a player, especially driving the pace in the classic leg. Don't think he'll be on the podium, but expect him and maybe Dario Cologna from Switzerland among a lot of RSF and NOR suits.
Picks:
1. Alexander Bolshunov
2. Emil Iversen
3. Johannes Klaebo
Looks like forecast is some light rain overnight, but staying above freezing. It will be cooler than the sprint, but temps still get above 40f/4c. Waxing for the classic leg of the skiathlon will likely be tricky, although I personally have very little experience with classic waxing.
Women 7.5k+7.5K Skiathlon @ 5:45 am EST
Favorite here is undoubtedly Therese Johaug from Norway, especially if conditions are variable/tricky. The question in my mind is if she is able/wants to open up an appreciable gap on the classic leg (where she is excellent), and if anyone is able to stay with her. There are skiers in the field with better finishing speed than Therese, but rarely is anyone near her! For Norway I am also interested to see Helene Marie Fossesholm in her first senior worlds start. She is such an exciting skier to watch, and was second to Therese in Lahti. Heidi Weng is also a strong podium contender after a third in Lahti.
Other contenders for the podium could be Ebba Andersson from Sweden who had great distance races at the Tour de Ski, Frida Karlsson (SWE) if she is fully recovered from injury, and Natalia Nepryaeva and Yulia Stupak from Russia.
For the US Jessie Diggins is definitely a podium contender if she can start the skate leg with the main group. The US is also starting three exciting younger skiers in Hailey Swirbul, Sophia Laukli, and Katharine Ogden.
Picks:
1. Therese Johaug
2. Jessie Diggins (heart over head?)
3. Heidi Weng
Men 15k+15K Skiathlon @ 7:30 am EST
This is going to be the Norway vs. Russian Ski Federation show, hard to see anyone else being a factor. Alexander Bolshunov probably comes in as the slim favorite based on the World Cup distance races this year, but in Lahti Norwegians took the first four spots with Iversen, Roethe, Golberg (not starting at world champs), and Krueger. The Norwegians also have Klaebo, and if he is in in contention coming into the finish, no one would bet against him.
For the US, Scott Patterson and David Norris bring experience, with Hunter Wonders and Ben Ogden bringing youth. Ben had a great result in the sprint, so I'm excited to see what he does in a distance race. I expected to see Gus Schumacher on the list (top American in Lahti), but it sounds like he is racing the team sprint on Sunday with Simi.
ETA: Iivo Niskanen from Finland could also be a player, especially driving the pace in the classic leg. Don't think he'll be on the podium, but expect him and maybe Dario Cologna from Switzerland among a lot of RSF and NOR suits.
Picks:
1. Alexander Bolshunov
2. Emil Iversen
3. Johannes Klaebo