In summary of Nordic Planet
Finland 🇫🇮 – Iivo Niskanen says Trondheim’s tracks are too easy
Iivo Niskanen won the first event of the 2024/2025 cross-country skiing world cup last Friday in the individual 10-kilometre classic in Ruka (Finland), proving that he is in good form despite a number of problems that have sometimes curtailed his summer preparations.
Asked in the mixed zone by Fondo Italia a few minutes after his fifth career win in Kuusamo about the forthcoming world championships in Trondheim (Norway), the Finn was, as usual, unapologetic.
The course for the Trondheim Worlds is a little too easy,” he says. I hope that on those days the snow will be slow, to make it more difficult for everyone. If the snow conditions are fast, then yes, it will certainly be too easy.
Sweden 🇸🇪 – William Poromaa goes for gold in Trondheim
Recently featured in a video on the Trondheim 2025 Instagram account, William Poromaa has made no secret of his ambitions for the international event scheduled for 26 February to 8 March in Norway. Bronze medallist in the 50-kilometre classic at the last World Championships held in Planica (Slovenia) in 2023, the Swede now wants to reach the top step of the podium.
I’ve already won a medal at the world championships, so I’m going to try and win gold in Trondheim,” he says. The 10km classic is the race in which I have my best chances. As for my main rivals, there will obviously be Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo. Iivo Niskanen is also strong in the classic events. And as for Petter Northug Jr, I hope he’ll be on the start line [Laughs]!
United States 🇺🇸 – After the party, Sophia Laukli took time out to travel
At the start of last winter, Sophia Laukli confided in us that she needed to party during the summer to relieve all the pressure of preparation. Praised by some and criticised by others, the American responded in kind by claiming her first cross-country skiing World Cup victory at the summit of Alpe Cermis (Italy) in January 2024.
The 24-year-old, who also excels at trail running during the summer season, has nevertheless changed her habits in recent months: “I’ve been travelling a lot. I was in Switzerland and France, for example. That’s where I spent most of my time,” she tells Iltalehti.
After the party, the American opted for travel to decompress before the winter. As well as the competition and training, there has to be something that takes my mind off my very disciplined lifestyle,” she adds. I don’t want to be exhausted all the time. That kind of thing is important for the mind.
Italy 🇮🇹 – Hampered by her back, Dorothea Wierer was unable to express herself fully in Kontiolahti
Only fifty-first in theindividual short race at the Biathlon World Cup in Kontiolahti (Finland) on Wednesday evening, Dorothea Wierer missed out on her first individual race of the 2024/2025 season. Faulty on five occasions against the targets, the Italian accumulated penalties and was never in a position to fully defend her chances.
“I’m a bit disappointed because I made a mistake with my shot and I was a bit tense. Since yesterday [Tuesday], my back has been hurting again. I don’t feel free, especially on my feet,” she told Fondo Italia. Despite that, I felt fine on the skis.
Russia 🇷🇺 – Anton Babikov not worried about Russian cartridges
A few weeks ago, Russian biathlon officials revealed that they were facing a “colossal problem” with cartridges for their athletes. And while some are looking ahead to the coming months with concern, some athletes are not stressed by the situation for the time being.
This is also the case forAnton Babikov. The gold medallist in the relay at the 2017 world championships inHochfilzen (Austria) doesn’t seem to be bothered by the shortage yet: “There’s no problem with the cartridges today. Everything is working fine,” he says firmly.
Poland 🇵🇱 – Great hope of Polish ski jumping, Lukasz Lukaszczyk will no longer be jumping this winter
Bronze medallist in ski jumping at the last Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon (South Korea), Lukasz Lukaszczyk is one of Poland‘s great hopefuls in the discipline. A podium finisher in the last three events of the FIS Cup held in Otepää, Estonia, in October, the 17-year-old will not be making his World Cup debut this winter.
Injured in the knee in recent weeks, the Pole recently underwent an operation and will not be able to defend his chances during the 2024/2025 season. In fact, as the Polish Ski Association revealed on Wednesday evening, the jumper will be absent from the jumps for three to four months: “We hope we’ll see him back on the jumps soon and motivated,” says Alexander Stoeckl, the new coach of the Polish national team.
Read also
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- Planète Nordic #15: Johann André Forfang receives death threat
- Nordic Planet #14: Petter Northur Jr and Ole Einar Bjoerndalen take on the Norwegian federation
- Planète Nordic #13: water in the gas with the Nordics
- Nordic Planet #12: Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen is supported by Swedish fans after his cracking Worlds relay performance
- Planète Nordic #11: Hanna Oeberg woken up by… a peacock in Nove Mesto
- Planète Nordic #10: former biathlete Alexey Volkov opens his grocery shops in Russia
- Nordic Planet #9: Swedish biathlete Tilda Johansson, at a standstill, takes her time to recover
- Planète Nordic #8: what Julia Simon, Johannes Thingnes Boe and Tiril Eckhoff think about Dorothea Wierer’s possible retirement
- Planète Nordic #7: Norwegian and Swedish adventures to reach Oberhof
- Planète Nordic #6: Sebastian Samuelsson stronger than William Poromaa on skis?
- Planète Nordic #5: William Poromaa takes on the biathletes
- Nordic Planet #4: when Roger Federer meets Tarjei Boe and Emilien Jacquelin
- Planète Nordic #3: the return of Russian athletes under neutral banners at the Olympic Games is causing a stir
- Nordic Planet #2: Dorothea Wierer’s misfortunes
- Nordic Planet #1: Stina Nilsson in the hot seat
