Cross Country Skiing
Yle expert: Let 21-year-old Leevi Tarjanne, who shone at Olos, start in the Ruka World Cup
November 16, 2025 / Yle
After a breakout 4th place in the men’s 10 km classic at the Olos Tykkikisat, 21-year-old Leevi Tarjanne impressed Yle expert Kalle Lassila enough that he urges giving the youngster a World Cup start in Ruka. Lassila notes Tarjanne’s absolute classic-skiing speed was on a new level, while cautioning against overinterpreting sluggish early-season form from Finnish stars like Kerttu Niskanen and Krista Pärmäkoski. The Olos races served as selection trials ahead of the World Cup opener in Ruka, with most athletes still in heavy training as they build toward the Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympics.
Frida Karlsson bursts out laughing at biathlon question: “It would be dangerous”
November 16, 2025 / SVT Sport
Swedish cross-country star Frida Karlsson explains why she trained with the national biathlon team at a high-altitude camp in France, stressing it was to work with her physiotherapist who is employed by the biathletes. She jokes that a real switch to biathlon would be “dangerous,” and says shooting was harder than she expected. Karlsson plans to race next weekend at the Swedish season opener in Gällivare.
Teresa Stadlober: “Social life is on hold for a few months”
November 15, 2025 / Kronen Zeitung (krone.at)
Austrian cross-country skier Teresa Stadlober discusses her goals and motivation ahead of the World Cup season opener in Ruka, Finland, and the Olympic winter. She notes she has already done two test races in Muonio and talks about personal sacrifices during the season, as well as an upcoming wedding. The piece is a pre-season interview previewing her international World Cup campaign.
Investigation into Victoria Carl’s doping case expands – could be settled via agreement, Swedish expert says
November 15, 2025 / Yle
German cross-country skier Victoria Carl’s clenbuterol case is now being examined in cooperation between Germany’s anti-doping agency (NADA) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), SVT reports. Swedish anti-doping expert Jessica Wissman says this may indicate a negotiated settlement is being sought, similar to tennis player Jannik Sinner’s case, though she doubts Carl will avoid sanction entirely. Carl, provisionally suspended since June after a positive test from the Military World Championships in March, maintains the substance came from treatment by a Swiss army doctor; Germany’s ski federation even recently named her Female Skier of the Year.
Harsh Lahti elimination woke up Lauri Vuorinen – an honest question to himself set change in motion
November 14, 2025 / Yle
Finnish sprinter Lauri Vuorinen recalls bombing out in the Lahti World Cup sprint qualification in March 2023, which prompted a frank talk with coach Ville Oksanen and a shift to harder, longer, and more frequent high‑intensity training. The overhaul led to a breakthrough 2024–25 season including a World Cup podium in Ruka, a historic individual sprint medal at the Trondheim World Championships, and team sprint silver with Ristomatti Hakola. As he opens this season at Finland’s Olos races, Vuorinen targets consistency towards Ruka and the 2026 Milano–Cortina Olympics in Val di Fiemme, while acknowledging the fine line between optimal load and overreaching.
What does Iivo Niskanen’s bold coaching decision mean? Yle experts say it’s a natural step for a veteran
November 13, 2025 / Yle
Finnish cross-country star Iivo Niskanen will coach himself going forward, while longtime coach Olli Ohtonen remains available for support and testing. Yle experts Aino-Kaisa Saarinen and Ville Nousiainen call the move a natural progression for a 33‑year‑old champion who already largely steered his own training. With Milano–Cortina 2026 in sight, they believe the change won’t harm his medal prospects and may sharpen his self‑assessment, with Ohtonen still assisting from Vuokatti when needed.
Comment: Iivo Niskanen’s decision is the most beautiful thanks to coach Olli Ohtonen
November 13, 2025 / Yle
Yle’s Pekka Holopainen argues that Iivo Niskanen taking full responsibility for his own training is a logical culmination of a 13‑year partnership with coach Olli Ohtonen — and the finest tribute a pupil can pay a mentor. He recounts Niskanen’s rise from an overtrained talent in 2013 to a multiple Olympic champion, noting how Ohtonen’s aim was always to make himself unnecessary. Ohtonen will still advise and test Niskanen, but the day‑to‑day coaching now shifts to the athlete as he targets another Olympic season.
Iivo Niskanen explains why he will now coach himself: “It even feels refreshing”
November 13, 2025 / Yle
Finnish Olympic cross-country champion Iivo Niskanen has ended his day‑to‑day coaching arrangement with longtime coach Olli Ohtonen and will take primary responsibility for his own training. In an Instagram video, Niskanen said he already shaped about 95% of his weekly program and views the step as motivating, while Ohtonen will remain as a supporter and testing resource. The change comes as Niskanen targets the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Yle: Iivo Niskanen to coach himself going forward; long-time coach Olli Ohtonen steps back but stays in support role
November 13, 2025 / Yle
Finland’s top cross-country skier Iivo Niskanen has ended his close day-to-day coaching relationship with Olli Ohtonen and will design his own training program ahead of the Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympics. Ohtonen, who guided Niskanen to three Olympic golds and multiple World Championship titles and awards, will remain involved as a tester and advisor. The move comes after disappointment at Planica 2023 and missing Trondheim 2025 due to illness, with Niskanen still targeting World Cup racing this season and potentially competing through the 2030 Olympics.
Anders Blomquist backs Norwegian call for closer ties: “Ebba Andersson is a trailblazer”
November 12, 2025 / SVT Sport
SVT expert Anders Blomquist supports Team Engcon boss Jörgen Ulvang’s view that relations between long-distance (Ski Classics) teams and World Cup cross‑country skiers have become “frosty” and should be closer. He highlights Ebba Andersson—who trained with Team Engcon instead of Sweden’s altitude camp in Lavazé—as a pioneer who can improve her classic distance skiing by adopting long‑distance training, especially upper‑body strength and double‑poling. Ulvang also predicts Ski Classics could switch from classic to skate technique, while the traditional circuit’s main target this season is the Milan–Cortina 2026 Olympics.
Cross-country: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo opens up about the ruthless choices he made
November 12, 2025 / NRK Sport
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo reflects on the hard, ‘cynical’ decisions he took in the run-up to the Trondheim 2025 World Championships, including isolating from family to avoid illness and skipping the Norwegian Championships at Gåsbu. He responds to sharp criticism from the NM organizer, while revealing a shoulder issue picked up during the Tour de Ski as another reason for his absence. Despite the backlash, Klæbo says the sacrifices paid off with six golds at the home Worlds, though they came with a personal cost.
Vasaloppet course to be rerouted for 2026 to reduce water hazards: “A better experience”
November 11, 2025 / SVT Sport
Organisers will slightly reroute Sweden’s Vasaloppet for next year to avoid sections prone to pooling water in mild weather, without changing the total distance. Adjustments include the area before the first checkpoint at Smågan, preventive measures at the start in Sälen, and a straighter approach into Mora ski stadium to improve the spectator experience. Interest is surging, with over 43,000 already registered—a 14% increase year-on-year—and many first‑timers inspired by SVT’s “Mot alla odds” project.