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By Gavin Kentch
LAGO DI TESERO — The men’s skiathlon kicks off here in less than an hour. USSS press person Leann Bentley graciously just sent along some audio from Gus Schumacher in advance of the race. Here’s Gus:
On snow conditions (he was skiing at the time, I can tell from the audio):
My assumption would be it’s maybe a little firmer than when we skied yesterday after the women’s race. But it honestly was pretty good still after their race, so I’m not too worried about it being crazy soft or anything. If it was super icy I see that could be a little scary, but we’ll see.
On whether conditions are different this week than when he has skied here in the past:
So far, it’s been different than like in January. It’s just — the snow’s a bit more transformed, like it’s gone through some rain and everything, so it’s more icy, granular than in the Tour. [Then] it was still like that kind of fresher, man-made snow, basically.
On how he is feeling for today’s race:
I’m pretty nervous. I think it’s nice to start the racing. That’ll help for sure. But yeah, a little nervous to see the conditions, just get around the first lap. It’ll probably be a little hectic. And just try to stay relaxed and ski within myself.
On what it’s like to be in races with Klæbo:
It’s like races with other people, I guess. It depends on your proximity, maybe. Like if I’m competing directly against him, that feels different than if I’m just in the same race. But like in the sprint in Goms, you definitely have the feeling of like — his abilities are pretty phenomenal.
It’s interesting. I think it’s just best to like sort of focus on yourself generally.
On what finishing second in the Goms classic sprint told him about his abilities as a sprinter:
I think it just like reinforced the sort of anything’s possible feeling. I’ve never really thought of myself as a classic sprinter, but I guess when the technique is clicking and the course and conditions are suited for me, anything can happen.
(Me again: Thank you to Leann for literally recording pre-race audio while skiing and sending it along. Good stuff.)
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