“It was certainly the best race of my career. » Frida Karlsson performed a demonstration for the season premiere in Ruka. During the classic 10 km the Swede flew over the competition, relegating the returning Norwegian Therese Johaug to 45 seconds and another Norwegian, Astrid Øyre Slind, to 54 seconds. The performance of the 3rd in the last World Cup is all the more remarkable as she was short of training according to her own admission. Frida Karlsson thus signs her 11th individual success.
Therese Johaug also puts in a great performance. The four-time Olympic champion shows that she is in great shape for her return to competition. As a reminder, the Norwegian announced the end of her career at the end of the 2021-2022 winter after 100 World Cup victories. Two years later, at 36, she decided to return to the circuit after having given birth to her daughter Kristin in the meantime. By taking 2nd place in Ruka, she builds on her 172 World Cup podiums and above all, Therese Johaug demonstrates that she will have to be counted on this winter.
The Swiss cross-country skiers are further down the table. Anja Weber ranks 28th at over 2’18. Nadja Kälin (36th) and Desirée Steiner (45th) are further down the table. Nadine Fähndrich was not initially planned. The Lucerne will be one of the outsiders to win the sprint on Saturday in Finland. He will compete in a free style.
Livo Niskanen blocks Norway
The men performed a little better two hours later. Still on 10 km, Beda Klee took a good 17th place to start the season just over a minute from the lead. Cyril Fähndrich also ranks in the top 20, just 20th.
Victory went to Livo Niskanen. The Finn, who won his 9th World Cup victory, the first in almost three years, prevented a Norwegian quintuple. Harald Østberg Amundsen and Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget completed the podium, 12 and 14 seconds behind the winner of the day.
JT
Swiss
