Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso’s Kati Roivas and Team Kaskipuu’s Juuso Mäkelä have been the Finns’ top names after the first individual races of the Ski Classics Season XIV. Roivas has taken places 8th and 9th, Mäkelä 35th and 16th.
At La Venosta Criterium, the third event of Ski Classics Season XIV, last Saturday, Kati Roivas, Team Næringsbanken Stora Enso, was in a good group, fighting for the top 10. Moreover, the “brutal cold” she experienced on the downhill sections did not ravel her race.
“A good, balanced skiing. I took a bit of a risk taking the lead of my group a couple of kilometers before the finish, while it might have been easier to save energy and draft behind the others. Still, sometimes, you have to be brave and go for it. I am quite satisfied,” Roivas summed up.
The beginning of the season has given positive signs:
“I have been able to fight for good positions. I hope to (reach) the top 5 at some point.”
For Juuso Mäkelä, Team Kaskipuu, the season has also got off to a good start. La Venosta Criterium was the race he had been waiting for, and 16th place was proof of that.
“In the spring, I made the decision to go all in on double poling training and long distance. Training has been done for that. Thus, I expected a reasonable result this weekend,” says Mäkelä.
During the summer and autumn, he noticed that he was feeling strong on double poling uphills, and he could use that skill at La Venosta Criterium.
“I am stronger on the climbs than on the fast, flat sections. Today (Saturday), everything went well. Skiing was quite balanced throughout. The waxing team succeeded really well,” Mäkelä praised.
Next, he is considering competing at FIS races in Pyhäjärvi, but the main focus is on training. In January, the Ski Classics calendar offers four races over three weekends.
“The shape should last until Marcialonga.”
Oona Kettunen, Team Kaskipuu (15th and 11th), and Anni Kainulainen, Team Electrofit (20th and 13th), have also skied well in their first Ski Classics races.
“Start of the race was challenging, as my starting position was quite far behind, and my track was not moving forward so well. I was blocked pretty badly. After skiing one kilometer, I was really far behind. From there, I improved my position by skiing as hard as possible. I would have hoped for a little bit better upper body endurance for the last kilometer; my arms were a bit worn out. Anyway, I have to be satisfied,” says Kettunen.
She summed up her first two weekends in Ski Classics with satisfaction:
“These races have got off to a positive start.”
Anni Kainulainen decided to go with kick wax after the ski test.
“It was definitely the right choice; my skis were great. All in all, a good race and a good placement, I got my maximum. In these races you can see that my muscular endurance is not good enough for such a long race,” Kainulainen said.
She believes that the 1.5 weeks spent in altitude will give her a good boost for the races in January.
“I have a feeling that there is potential for better if I would really put my mind to it,” says Kainulainen about her race experiences.
On the other hand, Heli Heiskanen, Slavia Pojišťovna Sport Team Z.S., had some challenges in the first races, but despite them, she finished 18th and 17th. Heiskanen’s primary goal of the season is the Grand Classics.
“I know from my autumn training that I am in good shape. I skied well in Olos (FIS races). I’m in good shape, but sometimes, the body resists,” Heiskanen laughs.
Her plans for a good training period at altitude were thwarted when the team car headed from Bad Gastein to the Czech Republic. The eight-hour journey from there and the arrival at the Criterium in La Venosta the day before were not ideal.
“My legs felt fine, but I really could not stand the cold. I was shivering on every downhill. When I started uphill, my muscles simply did not respond anymore,” says Heiskanen, already thinking forward.
Read More: Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XIV
The upcoming Ski Classics Pro Tour event is Pustertaler Ski Marathon, a 62km classic technique event in Italy on January 14, followed by Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, a 30km race also in Italy on January 15, 2023.
Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XIV (2022/2023)
- Event 1: December 10, 2022 – Bad Gastein PTT, Bad Gastein, Austria, 15km
- Event 2: December 11, 2022 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Bad Gastein, Austria, 35km
- Event 3: December 17, 2022 – La Venosta Criterium, Val Venosta, Italy, 36km
- Event 4: January 14, 2023 – Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Sexten, Italy, 62km
- Event 5: January 15, 2023 – Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, Niederdorf, Italy, 30km
- Event 6: January 21, 2023 – Engadin La Diagonela, Engadin Valley, Switzerland, 55km
- Event 7: January 29, 2023 – Marcialonga, Trentino, Italy, 70km
- Event 8: February 12, 2023 – Jizerská50, Bedrichov, Czech Republic, 50km
- Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
- Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 15km
- Event 11: March 5, 2023 – Vasaloppet, Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
- Event 12: March 18, 2023 – Birkebeinerrennet, Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
- Event 13: April 1, 2023 – Reistadløpet, Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 40km
- Event 14: April 2, 2023 – Summit 2 Senja, Bardufoss- Finnsnes, Norway, 67km
More info about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com.
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Photo: Reichert/NordicFocus
