Everything about Ruka’s games and the lively Urheilustudio weekend in this follow-up article. On Saturday, the events start with the sprint qualifiers at 9:55 am.
The skiing World Cup season started on Friday in Ruka with the traditional 10 km intermediate starts. There were clear winners in both the women’s and men’s competitions.
Iivo Niskanen returned after three years as Ruka’s number one and beat the Norwegians by more than ten seconds. The Finn led the race from the start.
Niskanen opened his season in the Olos cannonball competition, where he was fourth. Before the opening of the World Cup, he fell ill, which caused many to drop him from among the early favorites.
Sports expert Aino-Kaisa Saarinen admits that he didn’t think Niska was his number one favorite either.
– Getting sick probably brought a little uncertainty. But it’s great that he came, won and showed everyone that things are fine and that minor illnesses don’t bother him.
He was considered the early favorite for the race Johannes Höstflot Kläboabut the Norwegian finished fourth with his lackluster performance, half a minute behind Niskas.
– His skiing looked sticky and difficult from the beginning. At no point did it look like his normal skiing.
The second best Finn was Arsi Ruuskanen in 19th place. The gap to Niskane accumulated for a good minute.
– Certainly the speed distribution and everything else was successful. Arsi has been skiing well since the beginning of the season, and it continued here. The gap to the top was a brisk minute, which is very good and moderate. Ars is sure to have a peak season.
Ruuskanen has reached a better place in the World Cup four times in his career, and the best ranking of his career is eighth in the 20 km free in Davos in December 2022.
Kerttu Niskanen is far from the top
Frida Karlsson tore to victory with a difference of more than 46 seconds to the one who returned to the World Cup tracks to Therese Johaug. Karlsson was one of the early favorites, but his superiority surprised many. For example Kerttu Niskanen wondered about the difference in the post-race interview.
Aino-Kaisa Saarinen is on the same lines, even though he knew that the women of Sweden are in for a hard blow.
– Johaug is a tough opponent and Karlsson didn’t win his opening race in Sweden. You can say that he surprised me a bit, at least, and especially the winning margin was amazing, says Saarinen.
Behind Karlsson, who hit hard early paces, the race was more even. Johaug took the second place with a difference of less than eight seconds Astrid Öyre to Slind. Germany’s Katharina Hennig was half a second behind Slind.
– Therese was tough and I myself expected her to be in the top bracket. However, I didn’t count him as the favorite to win, but he is in good shape, and he will certainly still rock his speed throughout the season, Saarinen reminds.
Krista Pärmäkoski was 12th as the best Finn. According to Saarinen, Pärmäkoski skied well in the early season and can be satisfied with his performance.
Kerttu Niskanen, who is usually strong on normal trips, on the other hand, fell short of expectations, lost almost two minutes to the top and was 18th. Niskanen has often found his pace as the season progresses.
– He has normally skied in the top ten. I believe that he himself is now thinking a little and pondering what should be changed or done here, or whether his good results will come through competitions, as usual.
Have a good start to the skiing season Jasmi Joensuu was the second best Finnish 15th. In addition to sprints, normal distances also start to run.
– Of course, this is a good thing even when thinking about tomorrow. He has invested especially in the final draw, and it showed today in this race.
Joensuu to the podium?
Tomorrow at the World Cup, the competition will be in traditional sprints. Saarinen expects a lot especially from Joensuu, who has not yet reached the podium in individual World Cup competitions.
– He skied really well today. That doesn’t mean that she is definitely going to make it to the women’s final. The decisions are made on the last climb and in the stadium. If he can make that final move now, he can even break into the podium.
On the men’s side, Saarinen is waiting for what Joni Mäki and Lauri Vuorinen are able to present. However, the place in the final may be under a rock among the tough Norwegians.
Kläbo, who dominates sprints when fit, is a question mark for Saturday.
– Skiing was now completely different from normal. Of course, tomorrow is a new day, but it could be that if it’s as difficult as today, he won’t be seen in the final.
Everything about Ruka’s games and the lively Urheilustudio weekend in this follow-up article. On Saturday, the events start with the sprint qualifiers at 9:55 am.