The Ruka World Cup saw a dramatic finale in the women’s 20 km co-start race on Sunday. Swedish Moa Ilar won the American one after exciting stages Jessie Diggins. The difference between the two was 0.3 seconds.
There was drama in Diggins’ race when his pole broke on the climb in the last lap. The adversities did not end there, as Diggins was next hit in the face by a stick given by the maintenance man. In the rush, Diggins’ glove came off his hand.
The American star came to the finish line with his hand bare and his face covered in blood. Diggins was taken for treatment after the race.
Sports expert Aino-Kaisa Saarinen not surprised by Diggins’ fight. The last moments of the race reflect the character of the American. Saarinen knows Diggins well, as he camped with the American during his top career. Saarinen has described Diggins as his sauna buddy.
– He had to ski partially uphill without a pole before he got a new one. It must have been exhausting. Probably during the race, the concentration was so hard that the pain didn’t hurt. After the competition, the pain must have been shocking. At best, a speed of 70 kilometers per hour and about cold. The fingers have hardly been able to function, Saarnen described.
Saarinen believes that Diggins will be fine tonight.
– A top-fit athlete recovers from such trials quickly, Saarinen estimates.
Diggins was seventh in the traditional sprint and eleventh in the normal distance on Saturday. Normally, Diggins is stronger in freestyle skiing. It bodes well for the rest of the season.
– Jessie will be a really dangerous skier this season. This weekend proved that. The traditional one also runs about as well, Saarinen estimates.
Diggins: “Unbelievable surprise”
Diggins’ act also garnered praise from competitors. Rosie Brennan was impressed that Diggins was able to pull himself together after adversity.
Diggins told Urheilu after the race that he is fine.
– It was quite painful to get my hand warm again. I’m glad I’m OK now, Diggins stated.
The American has also been through bigger battles. In the summer, after 12 healthy years, she got sick with an eating disorder. That’s why competing was secondary when going to Ruka’s World Cup opener.
– It’s an incredible surprise that I feel so good. I’m just happy to be able to compete. I didn’t set any expectations for myself here. Maybe the race was so good that I wanted to have fun and give it my all, Diggins said and lavishly praised his support team.
Ryytty snarled again with rod problems
In Finnish terms, the competition saw a giant bang. Vilma Ryytty, 22, was the best Finn in 28th place.
Ryytty had a hard time on Saturday when his pole broke at the start of the traditional ten. The cause was a faulty output port. At that time Ryytty was surprised by the situation, but on Sunday the situation was different.
When the race covered the 2.5 kilometer Lenkki for the sixth time, Ryytty kept the pace at the head of his group and tried to catch the others. At that time Ryytty was in 19th place in the competition.
– Vilma Ryytty pulls the hose. Not just surviving, but trying to rise above. This will be a lot of good for the experience bank after yesterday’s fiasco. Pretty cool stuff, Expert Ville Nousiainen said in the newsroom.
The same trend continued in the previous round. In the last round, several more experienced skiers passed, but Ryytty skied the best World Cup ranking of his career.
For the Iisalmea, the competition was the fourth World Cup of her career. Ryytty was in the first World Cup race of her life last year, when the women skied a historic 50 km freestyle race at Holmenkollen. Ryytty was 32 at the time.
Aino-Kaisa Saarinen was able to praise Ryytty in Urheilustudio’s chat.
– Bravely went skiing and really tried. Go without prejudice!
Ryytty told Urheilu after the competition that he knew how to expect a good competition in freestyle skiing.
– The more special and slower the conditions, the stronger I am. Also, the longer the trip, the better, Ryytty stated.
Ryytty also revealed that you can’t avoid stick problems even on Sunday.
– It was rough at first. I didn’t have time to put the other rod in my hand before the start beep sounded, Ryytty stated.
He was also happy with his draw before the final two rounds.
– Then when I found the tube, where it was calmer, I felt really good for the first six laps. In the end, the leg got stronger, Ryytty decided.
The Finnish stars have a really quiet race
From Finnish stars Krista from Pärmäkoski and Kerttu from Niskase we saw a minor winning competition. Pärmäkoski was 31st, 3 minutes and 22.2 seconds behind the leader. Niskanen finished 4.8 seconds behind Pärmäkoski in next place.
– For Krista and Kertu, the race was not good. Today simply didn’t go well and they only took the points from this race that could be taken. Neither of them skied according to their own condition today, Aino-Kaisa Saarinen commented in the chat.