http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article. ... y=ice_newsFantasy skating preview: Euro Championships - Plushenko still tops European field, Kostner heavy favorite
Despite his long absence, Evgeni Plushenko is still capable of winning Euros.By Tara Wellman, special to icenetwork.com(01/20/2012) - It's a busy week in the skating world! Both the American and Canadian championships are this week. And meanwhile, half a world away, the 2012 European Championships is set to kick off on Sunday. And, of course, that means another round of fantasy skating!
Here's how I see it.
Men looking for season's bestsPool AThe battle for gold will likely come down to Spain's Javier Fernandez (the season's most pleasant surprise thus far) and Evgeni Plushenko, competing for the first time internationally since taking silver at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
Fernandez has been more than impressive this year, placing third at his first Grand Prix. He posted a 250.33 season's best at Skate Canada.
But, it's Plushenko. Even without competing for two years, he scored a 259.67 at Russian nationals. Granted, those scores are generally inflated compared to international marks, but the fact remains -- he's back, and I'm not willing to bet against him. He's my "A" pick.Pool BKevin van der Perren is the veteran of this group. He started the season strong with a bronze medal at Skate America. But then, the troubles began. He went from a 212 at Skate America to a 179 at Skate Canada.
Samuel Contesti, on the other hand, started the year with great expectations, but fell short of his Grand Prix hopes. Still, he posted a 209.69 to finish fourth at NHK Trophy. Then, at the end of November, he took gold at NRW Trophy with a 204.53 score. His season is headed in a better direction, so I'm picking Contesti this week.
Pool C
This is where it gets especially tricky. There are several young skaters in this group who are unproven on the senior international stage.
Jorik Hendrickx skated the free skate of his life at last year's worlds. This year, he bested that mark at the Cup of Nice in October, and tallied a 185.25. However, he was bested by another Pool C candidate, Chafik Besseghier, who scored 199.35 points on his way to a silver medal. Besseghier also competed at Trophée Eric Bompard where he tallied 160.39 points.
Still, I give the nod to Besseghier, based on his head-to-head record with Hendrickx this season.
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http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article. ... y=ice_newsFrench skaters channeling high hopes for Euros...
Brian Joubert: "I have always loved the European championships."
Amazingly enough, Joubert has medaled at every European championship he has entered so far.
"I do not know why I have always felt good at Europeans," he said. "I have skated there well right from the start. Maybe I like the timing of these championships. I never enjoyed skating at nationals, but I have always loved skating at Europeans. Maybe I feel that I am really supported there."
Joubert's ambitions for this year are clear: he aims at winning again. "What Florent [Amodio] and I did last year in Bern (Amodio and Joubert finished first and second at the 2011 Europeans) was just fabulous," he explained.
"Of course I would have preferred the order to be reversed," he said, laughing, "Yet I feel I am able to skate to a fourth European title. I have good feelings, my technique is good. I am aware that it will be quite difficult, though."
"Javier Fernandez from Spain is in great shape,
[Evgeni] Plushenko would not be coming back if he were not ready to win again. Also, several newcomers will have matured and will be ready. It is always much easier to make a podium for the first time than to stay up there. But, finally, you know, the stronger the competition is, the happier I am."...
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