CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Brutal conditions for the men's 50km mass start free forced organisers to shorten the race to 30km due to high winds and crippling cold.
The race went ahead at -15 degrees Celsius with 20-30km winds on a course that was extremely difficult to begin with.
Aussie athletes Phil Bellingham and Seve de Campo were prepared for the worst and battled the challenging conditions.
“It was super tough, and we knew it was going to be,” Phil said.
“The course itself was super tough. [There was] a lot of vertical elevation gain in it. With the snow being so cold and abrasive it meant the race lasted a lot longer than it usually does. Everything was adding to it today, the wind, the cold, it was just a super tough day.”
Shortening today’s course was met with mixed emotions from athletes. Phil talks about how he felt when he heard the news.
“Initially I was just a bit disappointed because I put a lot of work in to get to this point and trained a lot to get to the Olympics, only to have the race shortened.
“It’s a pretty prestigious event the 50km and not to be able to race it in its full was a bit disappointing, but now I’m a bit thankful because it was pretty tough out there today.”
Seve walked through how they prepare for the race and the toughness it takes to prepare for the men’s 50km.
“I mentally prepared myself to tackle anything. They could have lengthened [the course], or the conditions could have been even worse and I would have been ready to go,” Seve said.
“So at the end of the day shortening to 30km is fine.
“I would have liked to say I have done an Olympic 50km in brutal conditions but something for next time, I guess.
“I felt fine when I was out there. You really just switch your mind off and you know that it is going to be super tough so when you get there, and you are struggling, I guess you are just mentally ready for it.”
Seve pointed out the importance of not getting to far ahead of yourself in such a demanding and difficult race.
“For me you make sure you wear enough clothes and it’s just hill after hill, one at a time, just trying to hang on to the people that I am skiing with and that is how I mentally get myself through something like that.”
Jonathan Sweet
#HaveAGo
Cross-Country Skiing
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