Johannes Hösflot Kläbo mimics Iivo Niskanen and smiles at Yle – the Finnish star opens up about his greatest disappointment in his career

Johannes Hösflot Kläbo took his win at the 50 km race, clearly showcasing his dominance. Iivo Niskanen placed sixth, expressing how his illness prior to the World Championships in Trondheim was the biggest disappointment of his career.

LAHTI.

Kläbo’s performance reflects the narrative of the season. He showcased a strong finish in the world cup finale, outpacing his compatriots Andreas Fjorden Reen and Martin Löwström Nyenget in a comfortable sprint finish.

After his win, Kläbo even playfully mimicked the well-known celebration of Iivo Niskanen by dropping his ski poles, stating: "I thought it would be fitting to do the same here in Lahti after the 50 km race."

Niskanen expressed a bit of sympathy for Kläbo after the race. Unfortunately, Niskanen had to miss the World Championships due to an illness that struck him after the competition in Falun.

“I know how Iivo feels. It’s hard to regain form after being sick mid-season. I'm impressed with his performance," Kläbo remarked in an interview with Yle.

Iivo Niskanen revealed his disappointment about his fitness issues:

He struggled for endurance, admitting that being out of shape was affecting his ability to perform at his best during the lengthy competition.

Niskanen lamented that the body was not cooperating as it should be, making it tough to compete effectively. It was a challenge for him to recover adequately from the flu, affecting his training and performance levels leading up to the World Championships.

"It’s difficult to get the metabolism back to a point where skiing is managed and relaxed. It's not possible to improve my condition if I can’t recover properly. Fortunately, the snow is here, and I can focus on the Olympic winter ahead," Niskanen analyzed.

Klabo took the win, but there was also a heartfelt send-off for his teammate Pål Golberg and Jonas Baumann, who celebrated their retirement from professional skiing. Golberg finished ninth overall, and his celebration was embraced by the team's camaraderie.

“We’ve been teammates for 7 to 8 years. It’s been beautiful to see what he has achieved in his career,” Kläbo praised Golberg in the interview.