Harri Kirvesniemi Expresses Surprise at Recent Developments

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Prior to the event, renowned Finnish ski athlete Harri Kirvesniemi had not anticipated that Iivo Niskanen, another Finnish ski phenom, would grace the podium. However, Niskanen’s performance on Saturday in Salpauselä left Kirvesniemi pleasantly surprised, especially considering Niskanen’s somewhat lackluster performance in the current season.

Despite not being in top form, Niskanen secured second place in the 20-kilometer intermediate start race, falling behind only Johannes Hösflot Kläbo, who surpassed Niskanen by a mere 24 seconds. Kirvesniemi was taken aback by Niskanen’s performance, which far exceeded his expectations given Niskanen’s recent showings.

According to Kirvesniemi, Niskanen’s performance was not only surprising but also impressive. He admired how Niskanen was able to bring back his usual high-speed style, which had been somewhat missing in his recent performances. Just a month prior, Niskanen placed eighth in the traditional 20-kilometer SC cross-country skiing event.

Kirvesniemi praised Niskanen’s resilience and his ability to maintain his form, especially in traditional split starts where it’s challenging to beat him. He was also impressed by Niskanen’s technique, which he described as easy to watch and lacked the congestion he had noticed in Niskanen’s previous performances.

Niskanen himself estimated that he was operating at around 95 percent of his capacity, a view with which Kirvesniemi agreed. He noted that when Niskanen is in top form, he manages to climb steep parts well without dropping his hips and starting to run, a trait that was not fully evident in his recent performance.

Despite Niskanen’s commendable performance, the day belonged to Kläbo, who has often been lauded as a powerhouse in sports circles due to his exceptional speed. Kläbo’s fitness proved to be the deciding factor in his victory, as he started a bit slower than Niskanen but made up for it with easy cuts. Kirvesniemi acknowledged Kläbo’s hard work and competitive spirit as key contributors to his impressive performance.