Jasmi Joensuu was the only successful Finnish sprinter when he finished fourth in the Ruka World Cup traditional skiing sprint. The final place was Joensuu’s first in his career in the World Cup and at the same time the best ranking of his career in personal trips. Last year, Joensuu finished fourth in the pair sprint in Dresden Jasmin Kähärän with.
Joensuu’s success was tasty already because last season he bumped and broke his poles several times. Now he was able to take a good neck race from the sprint.
– I have been waiting for this for quite a long time. A semi without crashes is almost a standard performance, but today I aimed for the final. I tried to do my best, and it was enough for something like this, Joensuu said.
– Last year there were more or less crashes and rod breaks. The first thing was that I try to stay upright and keep the equipment intact. Then, for example, here it was really important to invest in that ending. It worked fine today.
After Joensuu returned to Finland from the United States three years ago, he has quickly risen to the top ranks of Finnish sprinters. He has also taken big steps on international tracks, and Ruka’s result shows that another step has been taken for this season. According to Joensuu, basic work in the national team and personal coaches, Kalmer Tram and Maaret Kurjenwith has brought results.
Joensuu was happy when he got to feel his final skiing in front of Ruka’s cheering home crowd.
– Yes, it feels really great. It’s great to succeed in front of the home crowd. The podium would have tasted even sweeter, but we’ll take it here next year, if not in Lahti.
Although Ruka’s sprint course has often suited Finnish skiers well, the results have not been the same as, for example, with traditional normal trips. Only two Finnish skiers have achieved the prize place in the sprint at Ruka. Virpi Kuitunen (now Sarasvuo) ranked second in 2006 and Sami Jauhojärvi in 2010 third.
In Kuusamo, the Finns have reached a couple of dozen places in the finals. Last year, no less than three Finns made it to the finals, when Johanna Matintalo was the fourth Katri Lylynperä Fifth and Joni Mäki sixth.
Matintalo: “Nothing could be done”
Finnish skiers continued skiing in large numbers in the traditional sprint of the Ruka World Cup. However, the joy after qualifying turned into a big disappointment in the heats, when one after another of the Finnish skiers had a hard time.
Johanna Matintalo, who was very successful in qualifying, broke her pole right at the start, Katri Lylynperä fell on the back run and also Emil Liekari and Lauri Mannila took a hit on Ruka’s sprint track.
– There was nothing left to do. However, that start is so fast on that track. If the stick goes, there is nothing to be done, Matintalo said at the finish line.
Friday’s sprint was the main race of the weekend for Matintalo, so that’s why he was disappointed after the race. However, Matintalo skied to the finish line in order to get World Cup points.
– Perhaps one of the worst experiences of my life in skiing, and even here in Ruka, where there is a lot of Finnish audience. It was pretty terrible, Matintalo admitted.
Katri Lylynperä admitted that she was poorly positioned when she crashed in the corner of the back run.
– It’s safer if it’s clearly inside or clearly outside, but I was in the middle of it. I had a ski on someone else’s ski, I slipped and rolled into it. Today is Katri’s day, but it doesn’t feel like it, said Lylynperä, who is celebrating her name day.
However, he was satisfied that he was able to increase his ranking in the final stretch and finished fourth in his heat.
According to his own words, Emil Liekari usually doesn’t fall terribly in the games, but now he made an exception.
– There, you and the others had a fight and I was the one who threw it in his face. This is a sprint, it belongs here. Next time I have to be a bit sharper myself, but I didn’t have a good feeling from the day, Liekari, who made it to the sprint race due to illness, stated.
Sweden celebrated a double victory in the women’s sprint Emma Ribomin and Johanna Hagström under. Norwegian Tiril Udnes Weng was third. In the men’s category, Norway took a quadruple victory Johannes Hösflot Kläbon dominating the final. Even Northug was another and Paul Golberg third.
Women, final:
1) Emma Ribom, Sweden 2:49,22
2) Johanna Hagström, Sweden +0.91
3) Tiril Udnes Weng, Norway +0.93
4) Jasmi Joensuu, Finland +2.41
5) Kristine Stavås Skistad, Norway +13.89
6) Maja Dahlqvist, Sweden +51.52
Finns who qualified in the semifinals:
13) Jasmin Kähärä
15) Amanda Saari
18) Katri Lylynperä
20) Maaret Pajunoja
21) Krista Pärmäkoski
22) Anni Alakoski
25) Hilla Niemelä
26) Johanna Matintalo
29) Anne Kyllönen.
Qualifying results (top 30 continue):
1) Ane Appelkvist Stenseth, Norway 2:48.85
2) Tiril Udnes Weng, Norway +0.56
3) Johanna Hagström, Sweden +0.87
4) Emma Ribom, Sweden +0.92
5) Johanna Matintalo, Finland +0.95
…
8) Krista Pärmäkoski +1.77
9) Jasmi Joensuu +1.83
12) Anni Alakoski +3.11
14) Katri Lylynperä +3.22
15) Jasmin Kähärä +3.27
17) Amanda Saari +3.97
25) Maaret Pajunoja +6.05
26) Hilla Niemelä +6.62
27) Anne Kyllönen +7.00
40) Anni Kainulainen +11.66
48) Fanny Kukonlehto +14.14
Men, final:
1) Johannes Hösflot Kläbo, Norway 2:26.00
2) Even Northug, Norway +1.66
3) Pål Golberg, Norway +1.94
4) Erik Valnes, Norway +2.27
5) Calle Halfvarsson, Sweden +3.73
6) Jules Chappaz, France +9.36
Finns who qualified in the semifinals:
14) Joni Mäki
18) Niilo Moilanen
23) Lauri Vuorinen
25) Juuso Haarala
26) Lauri Mannila
29) Emil Liekari
Qualifying results (top 30 for the final):
1) Johannes Hösflot Kläbo, Norway 2.25.72
2) Pål Golberg, Norway +1.21
3) Sivert Wiig, Norway +2.21
…
8) Joni Mäki +2.62
12) Lauri Mannila +3.84
14) Niilo Moilanen +3.90
17) Lauri Vuorinen +4.36
26) Juuso Haarala +5.92
29) Emil Liekari +6.02
37) Lauri Lepistö +7.34
38) Verneri Poikonen +7.64
40) Ike Melnitz +7.74
44) Wiljam Mattila +8.19
47) Väinö Kotro +8.84
58) Juuso Tossavainen +12.83