If you go through the fog and arrive in the Cross-Country venue in Vesec you would be surprised how nice weather there is, no rain and +5°C.
Grooming machines and men with shovels are working hard to fine tune the courses and stadium. "There are only a few details left," says satisfied chief of competition Petr Mach.
Martin Koukal will be among Czech medal hopes this weekend and was satisfied with the level of preparation in Liberec. „On the parts of the course where salt was used, the surface is hard and compact. If it is like that also tomorrow we can look forward to fast and very good race. Only in a few curves the course was softer," said one of the Czech favorites Martin Koukal. The one who criticized last year's course in Prague.
„We have a lot of experiences from World Champs. We were fully aware of how much time we needed for preparation,“ adds chief of competition Petr Mach. Winter has been favorable for snow production and the organizing committee produced sufficient amount of artificial snow. „The course is hard and compact and not even the rain can jeopardize the race,“ says confidently Mach. The snow layer on the course is of minimum height 70 cm and on some parts the thickness reaches almost one meter.
Ladies' and men's races will be carried out on the original World Champs' courses, 1575 m course for men and 1282 m for ladies. Almost all athletes used the chance and trained during today's official training. Czech team is motivated and hungry for success. „Difference between success and failure is the semifinal. I want to be top 12 tomorrow,“ says 32 year old Martin Koukal whose season best was 15th in Düssledorf.
Also another sprint specialist Dusan Kozisek hopes to show off in front of home crowds "World Champs did not go well for me. I failed to qualify in the sprint. I hope I will be better tomorrow,“ says number 1 Czech sprinter. He scored personal best at the World Cup level last year finishing fourth at the Prague Sprint, which was part of Tour de Ski.
With only 40 days left before the World Champs every result counts to get a ticket for Oslo. For Ales Razym, who was once the Czech national team member the weekend in Liberec is the last chance to come back. He shined two years ago at the World Champs scoring 6th in the sprint free. He has struggled this season and was sent to the B team. "He has to confirm the shape and gain World Cup points," puts pressure on Razym the Czech national coach Miroslav Petrásek.
Best lady Eva Nývltová sealed with 19th second best result after Katerina Neumannova. However, she has not broken into top 30 in the sprint. "I want to break through here,“ wishes the 24 year old skier.
Racing Program
Saturday
11.45 Start of qualification ladies, men
14.00 Quarter final
Sunday
11.15 Qualification team sprint
14.00 Final
