Markus Cramer Reveals What He Really Thinks

Markus Cramer Reveals What He Really Thinks

Leaders, Newsfeed
Markus Cramer is not only one of the world's best xcski coaches of this century. He's also very open and direct in expressing his opinions without being brusque. Here are some of his views on recent developments in international competitions and more talked-about events of the last season, derived from several conversations in the recent months: And dont miss for Part 2 where Markus talks about what he learned by working with the Russians.... [caption id="attachment_12086" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alpe Cermis as a mass start? - I am NOT happy with that idea. In at least two of the last three TdS series that final race was very interesting - in men's program at least. Now it will be messy fighting in tight curves on ascent.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_12093" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bad:…
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Guess You’ve Heard It – TdS Final Climb Is Going To Be Massstart

Guess You’ve Heard It – TdS Final Climb Is Going To Be Massstart

Leaders, Newsfeed
FIS Conference in Dubrovnik introduced yet another change: Alpe Cermis climb, the last stage of Tour de Ski is reverting to being a mass-start again. For once it's hard to complain: overtaking on that almost 400 meter altitude gain climb is going to be quite a show for all spectators. Participants, however, are not universally keen: Sjur Røthe, one of the world's best climbers ,already spoke negatively about the change.
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Charlotte Kalla: Tour de Ski Prize Money Now Is Less Than What I Got 11 Years Ago.

Charlotte Kalla: Tour de Ski Prize Money Now Is Less Than What I Got 11 Years Ago.

Newsfeed
Almost half, actually. When Charlotte Kalla herself triumphed in the second edition of Tour de Ski, spectacularly overtaking then-leader Virpi Kuitinen on the final Alpe Cermis climb, she took home almost 100.000 Swiss franks as the series winner. TdS Winner-2019, Ingvild Flugstad Östberg, was rewarded with CHF 55,000 - almost half. "The TdS prize money needs to be raised because it is less for a victory in the tour now than when I won eleven years ago.... I think the money is definitely important factor" triple Olymoic champion told Swedish TT news agency Quite a few top skiers, including hot favorite Therese Johaug, season's sensation Ebba Andersson and, indeed, Kalla herself chose to skip TdS 2018/19.
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Post-Tour De Ski Musings. Why Blink And Dresden Are More Fun

Post-Tour De Ski Musings. Why Blink And Dresden Are More Fun

Money & Finance, Newsfeed
Ingvild Oestberg has proven yet another time that she is one of the best this year and Johannes Klaebo has shown to all the fans & skeptics alike that he is much more than a sprint prodigy. Sergei "the Russian Bear" Ustiugov is back & roaring - literally and in fights for the podium while Therese Johaug and Charlotte Kalla were sorely missed. Oh, and the Alpe Cermis climb is still a fantastic race - arguably, the most TV & fans friendly of them all in the FIS calendar! Yet another resounding success for all involved? Not so fast. Let's start with small gripes e.g. what the point of having skiers to negotiate first 6 kilometers of the 9 km Alpe Cermis race that are actually downhill - before the…
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