FasterSkier · December 22, 2005
Source: Langrenn.com
– A number of people that commented on Langrenn.com’s discussion forum after the Canadian World Cup races felt that Norwegian skiers didn’t respond well to the German strategy. One person commented that the German national team coach Jochen Behle constantly talks about the German team’s strategy on German television. Norwegian national team coach Krister Sorgaard disagrees that it was strategy that prevented Norwegian victory in the 30-k mass-start in Canmore.
— Did anyone see how the two Germans worked together up the last hill in the 30-kilometer, and in the last downhill towards the finish stretch? The second German eased up a little in the downhill before the finish stretch in order to give Angerer a little gap. He also made a little miss-step, that I’m convinced was on purpose. This gave Angerer a gap that eliminated Estil’s chances. This was just enough to make it impossible for Estil to catch Angerer at the end. When Estil passed the other German it was too late and he was too far behind. Estil closed on Angerer at the end, but it was too late. The second German knew that he couldn’t beat Estil in the sprint and wanted Angerer to win since he is already leading the World Cup. They knew that Estil could win if he was right behind the leader at the start of the sprint. — I find it strange that the television commentators didn’t see this. Estil was in my opinion not beaten in the sprint, but rather with strategy. Estil was clearly faster on the last stretch.
— It’s of course a microscopic possibility that this wasn’t a planned strategy, but I’m 99% convinced that this was intentionally done. No problem with that, but we need to be aware of this, so we are not fooled by the same, for example at the Olympics!!!
He doesn’t believe that a skier like Jens Filbrich sacrificed himself in order to increase the chances of a victory for Angerer.
– Filbrich is interested in winning as well. Estil wanted to be second when they started the finish sprint, but Filbrich closed that gap. The German’s were simply better, says Sorgaard.
He doesn’t believe that the pursuit in Vernon was decided by strategy either.
– No, a group of 20 skiers were together until 300-meter to the finish. It was everyone against everyone. The German’s had the best finishers in addition to being in better shape, says Sorgaard. He believes there is only one receipt to win, and that strategy means very little.
– The strategy is to be first, but we didn’t have the quality that’s needed to do that, says Sorgaard.
