Iivo Niskanen should have originally participated in the Ruka Finland Cup sprint. However, the opposite happened.
Joel Sippola,
Emma Jump
Iivo Niskanen had signed up for the Ruka Suomen Cup men’s traditional sprint to be skied on Saturday. However, the man did not start the qualification.
Neither does the sister Kerttu Niskanen did not participate in the sprint.
Iivo Niskanen’s last weekend at the Olos cannon competition raised questions. On his current main trip, in the 10 km traditional intermediate start race, the Finnish star lost by more than 50 seconds to the winner of the race, Norway Mattis to Stenshagen.
Niskanen said after the race that he is not well. On the other hand, Niskanen’s race was partly taxed by the pole breaking right at the beginning.
– I changed the rod a couple of times. It didn’t catch on. It was time to press go. The condition just won’t last. It was such a bet today, Niskanen explained at the time.
Olli Ohtonen revealed to Urheilu why his protégé was not involved in the sprint. According to him, Niskanen will be seen in the 20 km race on Sunday.
– Basically, Iivo is involved in that. Let’s see what kind of competition can be made nationally. In terms of the early season, everything is of course aimed at next weekend’s games, Ohtonen referred to the World Cup in Ruka.
According to Ohtonen, Niskanen’s training has been going well recently.
– The preparation has gone well for the summer and autumn. The Ruka World Cup is the first big competition. The period of December is interesting. It makes the steps visible, where we are going in relation to others.
Four wins in Ruka
Niskanen missed the free intermediate start race skied on Sunday. Sports expert Aino-Kaisa Saarinen on the other hand, trusted that Niskanen is in the battle for victory in the Ruka World Cup.
– Those are typical comments from Iivo. Even if Iivo is in great shape, he will blow things like that. The regulars here can roll their eyes at what he’s talking about, Saarinen referred to Niskanen’s talk about poor health.
The World Cup season starts in a week from the scenery of Ruka. On Saturday, the traditional ten-kilometer intermediate start race, which is Niskanen’s main race, will be skied. Last year, we remember that Niskanen threw his poles after being “only” second.
During his career, the 32-year-old Finn has been the king of the intermediate start races in Ruka. He won the race in 2014, 2016, 2019 and 2021. In those years, the distance was 15 kilometers instead of 10.