A tout juste une semaine du début des 48e mondiaux de ski nordique à Oslo, voice des nouvelles des equipes nationales de combiné qui entameront la competition dans exactement  dix jours.

 

Cette Newsletter provient de la FIS, elle vous est retranscrite ci-dessous en anglais :

 

 

Autriche

> Felix Gottwald won a test race in Oberstdorf between Austrian and German athletes on Tuesday; another one is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday.

> Mario Stecher got second place in Oberstdorf and showed very good performances after his injury in Seefeld in mid-January

> The athletes will spend time at home next weekend and will fly to Oslo on February 22nd

> The team's goal is to win -- at least -- one medal.

> Team: Felix Gottwald, Mario Stecher, David Kreiner, Bernhard Gruber, Wilhelm Denifl

 

Estonie

>The team ís for a short training camp in Lahti until February 19th

> After a few days at home, the athletes will fly to Oslo on February 22nd

> The shape of Estonia's athletes is an open question mark, because they kept a long period of time with no competitions at all

> The goal is to reach a Top-20-position in one of the two individual competitions

>  Team: Kail Piho, Han-Hendrik Piho, Aldo Leetoja, Karl-august Tiirmaa, Kaarel Nurmsalu 

 

France

> After one week in Norway (three days in Oslo, four days in Lillehammer), the feeling is good in Team France. 

> Last Sunday, the athletes took part in the small Transjurassienne (23km), a popular race in the Jura

> Team: Jason Lamy Chappuis, Sebastien Lacroix, Francois Braud, Maxime Laheurte.

The last name for the Worlds is not clear yet, two athletes are selected (Nicolas Martin and Samuel Guy) - who does better at the COC in Kranj will travel to Oslo.

> France will travel to Lillehammer tomorrow, Thursday, compete with other teams during the weekend and stay there until the beginning of the World Championships.

 

Italie

> Alessandro Pittin won the Italian Championships in front of Giuseppe Michielli and Felix Peselj.

> Team: Alessandro Pittin, Lukas Runggaldier, Armin Bauer, Giuseppe Michielli and Samuel Costa. Mattia Runggaldier will remain stand-by at home.

> Until Thursday, Team Italy will train in Oberstdorf. After a few days at home, its arrival in Oslo is scheduled for February 22nd.

> Goal is to get at least one Top-Six place in one of the four events.

 

Japon

> During the National Ski Games in Akita, Akito Watabe won the U27-category, and Daito Takahasi the "Senior" category

> Today, Team Japan travelled to Norway and will stay in Lillehammer until February 22nd

> Team: Akito Watabe, Daito Takahashi, Taihei Kato, Norihito Kobayashi and Yusuke Minato

> Expectations: to win a medal, doesn't matter in the individual or team events

 

Norvège

> Team: Mikko Kokslien, Jan Schmid, Håvard Klemetsen, Magnus Moan and Gudmund Storlien

> Both Mikko Kokslien and Magnus Moan are in good shape

> At the moment the athletes are training at home; they will have a competition together with athletes of some other nationsin Lillehammer next weekend.

> Goal at the World Championships: to win three medals

 

USA

> Team USA finished its camp in Park City on Monday and headed to Lillehammer on Tuesday.  The athletes will stay in Lillehammer until Tuesday the 22nd, mainly focusing on jumping but also taking part in at least one test competiton in Lillehammer 

> Team: Bill Demong, Johnny Spillane, Todd Lodwick, Bryan Fletcher, Taylor Fletcher, and Nick Hendrickson will join the group after the COC in Kranj

> The goals are to win medals, head coach Dave Jarrett says. "If we can win one medal of any color we will be very happy."

 

Merci à Egon Theiner / www.fisnordiccombined.com

 

Photo : Nordic Focus