justanothercuriousdude wrote:
I don’t think I’m knowledgeable enough to try to be neutral here… -My agenda is first and foremost (in addition to give Ndikumwenayo some well deserved credit) to give Jakob some slack..! We can’t expect him to go on winning (now with better Euro competition) if he is a significantly worse athlete the longer the distance. But I think he is much better prepared now than in Copenhagen, and given a reduced course (7.8 km) I think Jakob will be tough to beat. But he has never shown himself as a good 10k runner, and a peak Ndikumwenayo might toy with him…. (But not if Jakob for the first time has adjusted his training to a better distance one -exciting to see..! Could also be that he had a very off day in Denmark -he hasn’t said anything about that, but he alluded to fatigue after only 2k, so maybe it was…?). I must also add that Ndikumwenayo also has shown some vulnerabilities -lost to Lobalu and Schrub in Euros 10000m 2024. But he has made at least three very strong xc’s the last few years -I don’t know if Jakob can match 9.th placings in WC…
The Norwegian Myhre? Maybe -he was outkicked in the Nationals xc for silver, but I hope he is stronger now (healed longer after injuries). But I really really miss Nordås -he is qualified, but won’t run because of the never ending Norwegian conflict. -I think he would have had a huge potential in that course, but now we never will know…
I was a little un precise here: 1. I meant that Ndikumwenayo could have been a tough task for Jakob if the course had been the usual 10k, and even worse if hilly. Of course no European toys with Jakob in a flat 7.8k course.
2. I think Myhre had an injury, but the main problem is recovering from a tough covid.