Ristomatti Hakola Surprised by His Speed, but Will Not Compete in Tour de Ski

Ristomatti Hakola has made the decision to skip the Tour de Ski, sticking to his original plan to focus on his health and competition schedule. In January, he has a busy calendar ahead, including participation in the Scandinavia Cup in Jällivaar, the Finnish Championships in Imatra, and a World Cup event in France.

Despite the challenges he faced due to illness, Hakola excelled in recent competitions, notably achieving a ninth-place finish in the 20km classic race in Davos. Though he found his pace improving after recovery from the stomach virus, he is cautious about taking risks during the grueling Tour de Ski, which spans nine days.

Hakola joked about the connection he felt between good performances and personal life events like a recent engagement, humorously suggesting he might 'propose again' before the World Championships. He emphasizes continuing to focus on personal training and maintaining a competitive mindset as he prepares for a challenging winter season ahead.