European “gamblers” can in addition to placing bets on soccer, team-handball, the London marathon, horse-racing and any other known to man sport now also place bets on Nordic events like Ski Jumping, Biathlon, Nordic Combined and Cross Country Skiing.
Norwegian Langrenn.com is each weekend “helping” their readers in choosing the possible winners for upcoming races. One of Langrenn.com advertisers is British bookmaker Ladbrokes.
Estland’s skiers are favorites in both the men’s and women’s races ahead of Saturday’s World Cup races in 15 k classic (women) and 30 k classic (men). Both events are mass-starts.
Men
Anders Veerpalu is the clear men’s favorite. He is a proven good classic skier and should be in top form for the home course race. We are convinced he is rested and geared up for this event. The odds are 3.25.
 beat Veerpalu (at the very end). They can manage that again if the can hang on. Veerpalu did however win the classic sprint in Lavaze earlier this season and showed that he has become a sprinter on his “old days”. Aukland will give you seven times your money and Estil 4.5</p>
<p>We should not forget Mathias Fredrikson, but he showed some weakness in Falun last week and might be in a small down period?</p>
<p>The Germans are tougher in skating, but no one has been able to ski away from them in the first 15 kilometer in the pursuit events. Maybe they can hang on to the end tomorrow. We know that they can sprint. Teichmann is their best classic skier, but he showed weakness in Falun as well.</p>
<p>Maybe both Frederiksson and Teichman need a hard workout after the Christmas vacation and are back this weekend? Odds 7 for Frederiksson and 13 for Teichman.</p>
<p><I>Torbjorn’s note: No mention of Kris Freeman at odds 21 – that would be my bet. $100 x 21 =$2100 (or you are out $100 and wish you had bought groceries instead)</I></p>
<p><B>Women</B><br />
Smigun is the clear favorite and odds 1.5 will not give you much. It’s hard to see that anyone can beat her on the home course. Schevchenko passed on Falun and might be back in top shape, odds 3.25<br />
Virpi Kuitunen showed good tendencies on the classic part in Falun. Big bucks if she can pull off a victory – odds 26 (!).<br />
Marit Bjorgun is good at hanging on and in the sprint… need we say more. 21 times your money if she wins.</p>
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