Cross Country Skiing
Sweden’s Linn Svahn and Norway’s Lotta Udnes Weng withdraw from Tour de Ski
December 26, 2025 / Yle
Swedish sprint star Linn Svahn will skip the Tour de Ski after feeling pain in her right leg during training; her coach Stefan Thomson says it is likely a nerve compression and the decision is precautionary. Norway’s Lotta Udnes Weng also withdraws after falling ill over Christmas, with Nora Sanness replacing her. The Tour begins in Toblach and finishes in Val di Fiemme on January 4; Sweden recently named Svahn to its Milan–Cortina 2026 Olympic team.
Linn Svahn injured — will skip Tour de Ski
December 26, 2025 / Sveriges Radio – Radiosporten
Sweden’s sprint star Linn Svahn will not start the upcoming Tour de Ski due to an injury concern. National team coach Stefan Thomson says the decision to withdraw is a precaution. The setback is a blow to the Swedish team ahead of one of the World Cup’s marquee stage events.
Jasmi Joensuu and Lauri Vuorinen to test Val di Fiemme’s new Olympic sprint course
December 26, 2025 / Yle
Finland’s sprinters will get a first look at the revamped Val di Fiemme sprint course during the Tour de Ski on 3 January, which mirrors the Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympic sprint. Head coach Teemu Pasanen says the track has been redesigned to be tougher, with three climbs and a lower entry into the final descent to reduce pack-skiing and late surges. The Tour opens in Toblach and, aside from the Val di Fiemme sprint, most stages do not follow Olympic formats; the week will also show the form of Iivo and Kerttu Niskanen and Krista Pärmäkoski after illness or early-season struggles.
Here is Finland’s team for the Tour de Ski – Iivo and Kerttu Niskanen set for the stage race
December 22, 2025 / Yle
Finland named a 16-athlete squad for the Tour de Ski, taking place in Toblach and Val di Fiemme over the New Year. Both Iivo and Kerttu Niskanen are included, while in-form Arsi Ruuskanen skips the tour to focus on peak form for the Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympics. The article also lists Finland’s ski jumping selections for the concurrent Four Hills events in Germany and Austria.
Finnish Ski Association aims to hire a foreign head coach for cross-country – eyes on Norway
December 22, 2025 / Yle
High-performance director Petter Kukkonen says Finland will seek a foreign head coach for its national cross-country team after current head coach Teemu Pasanen and women’s lead Reijo Jylhä depart in spring. Norway is the primary talent pool, with the success of Norwegian Erik Torneus Kulstad with Finland’s biathletes cited as encouragement; meanwhile, veteran skiers like Krista Pärmäkoski are nearing retirement, pushing the team into a transition before the 2029 Lahti Worlds. Ski jumping and Nordic combined staffs are expected to remain largely unchanged, though the Olympic status of women’s Nordic combined remains a key uncertainty for funding and participation.
Austria’s Mika Vermeulen pulls out of Tour de Ski after illness – last year’s runner-up
December 22, 2025 / Yle
Austrian cross-country skier Mika Vermeulen will skip the upcoming Tour de Ski after catching a mild flu following the Davos World Cup. Vermeulen, who finished second overall at last season’s Tour and reached the podium in Ruka this autumn, says he won’t risk his Olympic preparation for Milano–Cortina 2026. Last year’s Tour was won by Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo ahead of Vermeulen, with France’s Hugo Lapalus third.
Paglia sets new Paralympic Nordic skiing record; Italy’s president and prime minister praise his feat
December 21, 2025 / La Gazzetta dello Sport
Italian lieutenant colonel Gianfranco Paglia set a new Paralympic Nordic skiing mark in his self-styled “2 hours no limits” challenge in Corvara, covering 14.360 km and surpassing his previous best of 11.680 km from Val di Fiemme. The first tetraplegic to take on sitting Nordic skiing, Paglia framed the effort as a message of inclusion ahead of Milano-Cortina 2026, drawing congratulations from President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Olympian Manuela Di Centa and Italy’s Paralympic Nordic team were among those present in support.
Alisa Vainio’s funny revelation about Johanna Matintalo — spat water on her
December 21, 2025 / Yle
Former junior rivals Alisa Vainio and Johanna Matintalo recalled racing each other in cross‑country/terrain running events on Yle’s Urheilustudio. Vainio, now a top marathoner, amusedly remembered Matintalo spitting water on her in one race; both reflected on how their early rivalry pushed each other and on Matintalo’s Olympic goals.
Veterans’ Olympic chances: “If extreme top results come...”
December 20, 2025 / Sveriges Radio – Radiosporten
Swedish cross‑country veterans Calle Halfvarsson and Jens Burman have struggled to start the season and failed to qualify for the Tour de Ski. National team boss Anders Byström points to the Scandinavian Cup after New Year as their route to prove form, earn World Cup starts, and be considered before Olympic selection. With strong domestic competition and limited Olympic quotas, it remains uncertain whether Sweden’s Olympic Committee will use all places for men’s distance events.
Norwegian columnist on Alvar Myhlback’s Olympic plans: “He’s no masochist”
December 20, 2025 / SVT Sport
NRK columnist Jan Petter Saltvedt reacts to Swedish prodigy Alvar Myhlback’s reluctance to race the 50 km at the 2026 Winter Olympics, saying Norwegian experts are baffled but that Myhlback will choose the events that best suit him. Myhlback has been selected for Milan–Cortina 2026 and is considering sprint and skiathlon, but doubts he’s ready for the 50 km. Saltvedt calls Myhlback a gift to the sport due to his exceptional all‑round talent.
Cross-country: Tønseth criticizes Norway team bosses for not following their own selection criteria
December 20, 2025 / NRK Sport
Norwegian skier Didrik Tønseth says the national cross-country leadership repeatedly ignores its own published selection guidelines. He cites the first Olympic nominations and a World Cup reserve choice as examples, arguing results from relevant races are being outweighed by subjective factors. The federation, via head coach Per Elias Kalfoss, responds that selections are holistic and handled directly with athletes, while the committee formally approves nominations.
Maja Dahlqvist signals retirement plans: “If I can choose now, I want to stop then”
December 19, 2025 / SVT Sport
Swedish sprint star Maja Dahlqvist says she plans to compete two more seasons through the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina and the 2027 World Championships in Falun, and then retire. The 31‑year‑old, a two‑time Sprint Crystal Globe winner with multiple Olympic and World Championship medals, still lacks an individual Olympic/Worlds gold and is targeting Milan‑Cortina to complete her collection.