Lauri Lepistö made up for his unlucky sprint day in the 16km skate race and celebrated the championship title at the Finnish Rollerski Nationals in Vuokatti. Remi Lindholm took silver and Ville Ahonen bronze. The top three finished within half a minute of each other.

“After yesterday’s race, I was more hungry (to perform well) than when I came here,” Lepistö said with a laugh.

“I was able to ski well.” 

Lepistö’s summer training has gone well. It has involved a lot of training, but the total volume has stayed well under control.

“I have recovered well during the easier training weeks.” 

He is heading to Ramsau for his next three-week camp.

“Last year was the first time I did a longer camp in Ramsau. Before that, I was in Val Senales. When you go on your own, Ramsau is easier: you can train more, and you do not have to be so careful with your recovery,” Lepistö said, referring to the difference in altitude between the camp sites.

Remi Lindholm described his current shape as “pretty basic.” He was well aware of how the race developed and got split times during the race.

“It’s a bit frustrating that Lepi (Lepistö) came and passed me.” 

Lindholm’s first summer with the national team has gone “just fine.” In addition to a couple of camps with the national team, he has been training in Vuokatti on his own and with local skiers.

“The camp in Italy was quite instructive, but my shape there was pretty bad. If my shape today were as it was there, I would not even have been in the top 30. However, I have been able to do the right things after that camp.” 

Did you make any changes to your training for the summer?

“Not too much. It is mostly volume and intensities 1-2 per week. Otherwise pretty basic,” Lindholm said.

Ville Ahonen had the “perfect starting position” as he started 30 seconds before Lauri Lepistö.

“I started relaxed. That was the plan. I knew what was going to happen here today. When Lepistö came and passed me, it was the intention that I would give everything I had on every hill. It worked pretty well,” Ahonen said.

He is training for the first year with the national team. The training season has been intact. 

“The camps have given a good rhythm to the training. It has been quite challenging to recover from the camps, but the time in between has been enough. I have been able to go into the camps in a good state. It’s been going really well.”

In addition to the camps and the rhythm they bring, the national team has also provided Ahonen with recovery monitoring and tests, which have supported his training well.  

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