Finnish Iivo Niskanen Wins the First World Cup Race at Home

Iivo Niskanen showcased an incredible performance on home turf by winning the 10 kilometers classic race in Ruka, Finland. He completed the course in 23 minutes, leading from start to finish and securing his place as a top contender for the season. This victory marks his ninth World Cup win and his fifth on this track.

Niskanen, age 32, finished 12.5 seconds ahead of Norwegian Harald Oestberg Amundsen, who claimed the big crystal globe last March, and 14.1 seconds ahead of fellow Norwegian Martin Loewstroem Nyenget.

The race also saw strong performances from the French team, with Hugo Lapalus finishing in the top ten at 10th place, 40 seconds behind Niskanen. Other French teammates, including Jules Chappaz, Mathis Desloges, and Richard Jouve, offered respectable placements in the competitive field as well.

In the women’s race earlier, Swedish skier Frida Karlsson also took home a victory in the first women's World Cup race of the season, making it an exciting opening weekend for cross-country skiing fans in Ruka.

For further details on the results, including the full classification of the 10km classic race, visit the official World Cup page for Cross-Country Skiing on L'Équipe.