Cross-country skiing : a first Norwegian hat-trick led by Harald Oestberg Amundsen
It was a 20-kilometre mass-start skate that was on the programme for the final day of competition at the cross-country skiing world cup in Ruka (Finland). And as is often the case with this format, it was in the final hectometres that things really began to unravel.
A race in which the Norwegians dictated the rules despite the absence of Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo. At the front from start to finish, the Scandinavians then got rid of a tenacious Mika Vermeulen to fight it out for victory on the final climb before the final straight.
In the end, it was Harald Oestberg Amundsen who was the strongest. Winner of the crystal globe last year, the 26-year-old cross-country skier took his first victory of the winter and at the same time regained the yellow bib he wore last season.
Behind him, Jan Thomas Jenssen also put in a fine performance to claim his third career podium, just nine-tenths behind his compatriot. Martin Loewstroem Nyenget , who has also been in fine form at the start of the winter season, rounded off the top three to give his country its first treble of the 2024/2025 season.
Behind Mika Vermeulen, who was still in the thick of the action in a skating race, Andreas Fjorden Ree, who was making his third start on the circuit, moved into the top five after setting the pace for a while. Simen Hegstad Krueger followed him in the rankings, while the Americans Zanden McMullen and Gus Schumacher also shone in seventh and eighth place.
Mathis Desloges posts career-best result
Starting with number 45 on his back, Mathis Desloges had to work his way up to the front of the race for a long time. Once he had established himself in the leading group, the Frenchman never relinquished his position until the final hectometres of the Finnish course. In contact with the very best, the skier from Villard-de-Lans (Isère) finally crossed the line in ninth place.
The result not only makes him the best French rider of the day, but also, and more importantly, his best ever performance on the World Cup after just six starts on this circuit. At the same time, the Team Vercors Isère rider was awarded the green bib of best young rider on the circuit. Just behind him, Jules Lapierre also put in a fine performance and regained his form after a complicated individual classic on Friday.
Hugo Lapalus was among the day’s favourites for a long time, but eventually lost ground with six kilometres to go. Managing to stay up in the rankings, the Haut-Savoyard managed to finish twenty-fifth, just ahead of his team-mate and friend Jules Chappaz, who finished twenty-sixth and once again put in a fine performance in a distance event.
Théo Schely finished tied with Sweden’s Maans Skoglund in thirtieth place. Rémi Bourdin crossed the line in thirty-eighth place, while Richard Jouve rounded off the French rankings in sixty-fifth place.
The full rankings
The overall distance ranking
The overall World Cup standings
Read also
- Slightly ill, Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo will not take part in the Ruka mass-start skate race
- Start lists for the Ruka skate mass-starts
- Ruka: untouchable, Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo wins his first classic sprint, Jules Chappaz goes out in the quarters
- Ruka: first World Cup victory for Johanna Hagstroem in the classic sprint
- Ruka: Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo leads the classic sprint qualifier, Jules Chappaz the only Blue in the quarters
- Ruka: Jasmi Joensuu dominates the classic sprint qualifier, no Frenchwoman in the finals
- Ruka: the start lists for the classic sprints
- A year after a furious second place, Iivo Niskanen returns to World Cup victory in Ruka
- Ruka: in his own backyard, Iivo Niskanen shines ahead of the Norwegians, Hugo Lapalus starts with a top 10 finish
- In their first duel, Frida Karlsson gets the better of Therese Johaug
- Ruka: Frida Karlsson takes her first win of the season in style, Mélissa Gal tops the French rankings
