Korbinian Heiland competes twice at the Junior World Championships in Vuokatti.
Then things should go better than in the sprint.
Vuokatti / Peiting
- The Finnish Vuokatti is only four hours south of the Arctic Circle.
Accordingly, there is almost always Siberian cold there, currently the thermometer measures minus 20 degrees Celsius.
No easy task for the Peitinger cross-country skier Korbinian Heiland, who has been there since last Monday at the Junior World Championships.
Things didn't go well for the 19-year-old in the sprint either.
He did not get beyond rank 54 in the qualification.
“The sprint is not really my discipline, but I wasn't good either,” is his summary.
Cross-country skiing: heavy legs with Korbinian Heiland
On the one hand, his legs were still heavy from the trip, on the other hand, the cold was a big adjustment for his body.
"We previously trained at plus five degrees, that's something else," says Heiland.
This is also reflected in the overall result, in the end the Scandinavians were consistently ahead.
Only in tenth place followed the first Central European with Heiland's team-mate Jan Stölben.
Cross-country skiing: Korbinian Heiland has now got used to the conditions in Finland
In the meantime, however, Heiland has acclimatized.
“It's really wonderful here, cross-country skiing is a dream.” His legs are already looser, and he is positive about the relay on this Saturday and the 30-kilometer race on Sunday.
"These are more my routes anyway," he says.
The 30 kilometers in classic style are “my main race”, according to the Peitinger.
The goal again: to be among the top 15.
For the season it is still necessary to wait for the team tactics.
What is certain, however, is that Heiland will run in second position in classical technique.
Both races at the weekend will in any case lead through the Finnish winter wonderland, which makes these championships - regardless of results, Corona - something very special.
KATHRIN EBENHOCH