Joni Mäki repeats last year's trick - Ristomatti Hakola's shouting made him chuckle

Joni Mäki led his team, Pohti SkiTeam, to a win at the men's 4 x 10 km relay finals at the Finnish Championships held in Taivalkoski. Mäki managed to replicate his previous year's success by triumphing over strong competitor Markus Vuorela from Jämin Jänne.

The two athletes opened their final sections neck-and-neck, but Mäki managed to pull ahead due to his powerful finishing kick. "This year felt tougher than last year, and the context was different; I didn’t feel vigorous like before," Mäki remarked to Yle Sports.

Ristomatti Hakola was vocal during the race, and his shouts amused Mäki. Vuorela commented, "I tried to pull ahead on the first leg, then prepared myself for Mäki's kick during the final stretch. He just laughed and seemed unshaken."

Moreover, Pohti SkiTeam’s victory not only marked a significant win in this race but also secured the overall victory in the relay cup, which had been a long-time goal for the team. Mäki expressed how monumental this win was for the team, considering past challenges.

The weekend of championships continues with women's 30 km and men's 50 km freestyle races, broadcasted by Yle TV2 and the Yle Areena.