Niskanen Wins Season Opener

Cross-Country

Finnish skier Iivo Niskanen claims victory in Ruka.

Carlos Ferreira Updated 1 week ago

Quick read: Finnish skier Iivo Niskanen won the season-opening 10-kilometer classic race in Ruka, finishing in 23 minutes. He finished 12.5 seconds ahead of Norway's Harald Oestberg Amundsen and 14.1 seconds ahead of Martin Loewstroem Nyenget. French skier Hugo Lapalus placed 10th. The Norwegian Cup continues with more events this weekend.

Iivo Niskanen opened the cross-country skiing season with a strong performance at the 10-kilometer classic event in Ruka, Finland. Competing on home soil, Niskanen dominated the race, finishing with a time of 23 minutes, marking his ninth World Cup victory.

Race Highlights

Niskanen, 32, led the race from start to finish, finishing 12.5 seconds ahead of Norway's Harald Oestberg Amundsen, the reigning overall World Cup champion. Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, also from Norway, finished in third place, 14.1 seconds behind Niskanen.

French Competitors

Hugo Lapalus represented France well by finishing in the top ten, securing a tenth-place finish, 40 seconds off the lead. Other French skiers included Jules Chappaz in 22nd, Mathis Desloges in 26th, and Richard Jouve in 27th. Rémi Bourdin and Jules Lapierre finished in 40th and 47th places, respectively.

Upcoming Events

This race marks the beginning of the competitive season, with more events scheduled in the coming weeks. Athletes will be looking to secure their positions for the World Cup events, including the next competition in Lillehammer.