Iivo Niskanen upset the slopes of Ruka’s World Cup general – the expert did not completely buy the star skier’s criticism

Lauri Vuorinen and Johanna Matintalo were convincing in the Ruka Finnish Cup sprints. Iivo Niskanen hopes that the track will be in better condition on Sunday.

On Sunday, in Ruka’s Suomen Cup, 10 kilometers in traditional skiing. The broadcast of the sports studio on TV2, Areena and the app starts at 10:50 a.m. follows the events of the weekend in this article.

Skied to a convincing victory in the 10 km traditional intermediate start race in Olos last week Iivo Niskanen made Ruka happy by participating in the sprint at the Suomen Cup. The star skier, who rarely participated in sprints in recent years, was once fourth in the Ruka World Cup sprint.

Niskanen was fourth in the Finnish Cup qualifier. However, the 31-year-old title race winner was not satisfied with his speed or the track.

– The track is that soft. It’s not like I thought. We’ll see if the groin can hold out, Niskanen vowed after qualifying.

In the heats, he progressed to the semi-finals through time comparison, but the speed was not enough for the finals. He lost in his semi-final Olli Ahonen and Joni Mäen behind.

Niskanen’s feeling was not positive even after the heats.

– I’m not really satisfied. The sets went badly in the final climb. The second one was better, but it didn’t turn out as it should have, Niskanen regretted.

The expert partially disagrees

Niskanen was happy that he was able to ski in Ruka, thinking about next week’s World Cup weekend. He will also compete in the Suomen Cup in Ruka on Sunday, when Niskanen’s strong sport at the moment is on the program, a ten-kilometer intermediate start race with traditional skiing.

He anticipates a fast race, but hopes that the track would be in better condition.

– I hope the tracks are run earlier, so that there would not be such slush. It was in really bad shape. It would be nice to ski with relaxed technique and not in slush. That’s how it would serve for the World Cup, Niskanen stated.

It is still uncertain whether Niskanen will also be seen in the sprint at the Ruka World Cup.

– We’ll see if we’ll be selected, Niskanen replied to the question about participating in the sprint.

Commenting on sprints on television Ville Nousiainen partially agreed with Niskanen.

– There were a lot of traces in the sprint load. Elsewhere the track was harder and tighter. Surely now it was about that sprint charge, Nousiainen saw the situation.

The men’s sprint was won by a man who made a convincing race day Lauri Vuorinen before Joni Mäki and Estonia Marko Kilpiä.

Matintalo assured

Vuorinen’s spouse in the women’s sprint Johanna Matintalo was also in great shape. Matintalo skied to a clear and easy victory before Jasmi Joensuuta mixed Katri Lylynperää.

– The main idea was to get a good general for Ruka. It was such a big difference from the others that it’s not exactly in bad shape, Matintalo was happy.

Ruka’s hard sprint track is suitable for Matintalo. Two years ago, he was fourth in the World Cup sprint in these landscapes.

In the World Cup sprint, Matintalo has been third twice.

According to Matintalo, who turns 27 in December, skiing is not ready yet. He is currently coached by Ville Nousiainen.

– I believe that compared to before, my pace will only accelerate during the competition season.

Matintalo enjoyed the fact that the Finns were able to ski in Ruka, thinking about next week’s World Cup weekend.

– This is an insane home field advantage. It’s great that Ruka has received this.

On Sunday, in Ruka’s Suomen Cup, 10 kilometers in traditional skiing. The broadcast of the sports studio on TV2, Areena and the app starts at 10:50 a.m. follows the events of the weekend in this article.