Cross Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing – Ruka: Vermeulen fifth after strong mass start
November 30, 2025 / krone.at
Austria’s Mika Vermeulen finished fifth in the men’s World Cup mass start in Ruka after leading much of the 20 km race alongside Sweden’s Edvin Anger. Norway’s Harald Østberg Amundsen won ahead of compatriot Einar Hedegart and Anger, with Vermeulen 8.4 seconds off the win. Vermeulen, who was already third in Friday’s 10 km classic opener, said wind and a hard-chasing Norwegian group caught them late; teammate Tobias Ganner placed 43rd.
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Emil Iversen dominates again — books a World Cup start after runaway win at Scandinavian Cup in Gålå
November 30, 2025 / Eurosport Norway
Emil Iversen crushed the field in Sunday’s 20 km at the Scandinavian Cup in Gålå, adding a second victory in three days and earning selection for next weekend’s World Cup races in Trondheim. He finished 28.6 seconds ahead of Edvard Sandvik, who was chosen for the Ruka World Cup opener over Iversen, a decision criticized by Iversen and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. The 34‑year‑old will now start both the 10 km free and the 20 km skiathlon at home, as he pursues a 10 km start at the Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympics.
Can Finland’s women close the big gap to the top? Expert Ville Nousiainen’s cautiously optimistic take
November 30, 2025 / Yle
On an icy course in Ruka’s 20 km freestyle mass start, four Finnish women—Hilla Niemelä, Anni Alakoski, Eveliina Piippo and Oona Kettunen—DNF’d due to poor edge grip, while Krista Pärmäkoski (16th) and Kerttu Niskanen (20th) finished well behind winner Jonna Sundling. Yle expert Ville Nousiainen acknowledged the sizable deficit but believes form can improve, and women’s coach Reijo Jylhä expects speed to rise as the season progresses. The piece contrasts women’s struggles with some men’s bright spots (Iivo Niskanen 5th over 10 km classic; Lauri Vuorinen and Johanna Matintalo in sprint finals), and highlights emerging names like Veeti Pyykkö and Kalle Parantainen.
Kläbo closing in on the 'crazy' dream mark of 100 World Cup wins: “Surreal to hear”
November 30, 2025 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo goes into Sunday’s 20 km freestyle World Cup in Ruka chasing his 100th individual World Cup victory. Swedish legend Torgny Mogren called the milestone “incredible,” noting the level of competition Klæbo has faced. Klæbo himself says the figure is hard to grasp as he continues to dominate men’s cross‑country skiing.
Cross-country: Edvin Anger third in Ruka mass start: “That was nice”
November 30, 2025 / SVT Sport
Sweden’s Edvin Anger finished third in the men’s 20 km mass start in Ruka, behind Norway’s Harald Østberg Amundsen and Einar Hedegart. Anger stayed with the lead group throughout but couldn’t match the Norwegian surge on the finishing straight, calling the podium a much‑needed boost for his confidence.
Cross-country: Emil Iversen wins again after being left off Norway’s Ruka team: “I got an energy boost”
November 30, 2025 / SVT Sport
Emil Iversen, omitted from Norway’s squad for the World Cup opener in Ruka, responded by winning two straight races at the Gålå national events: Friday’s 10 km freestyle and Sunday’s 20 km classic. He criticized the selection process—where 24‑year‑old Edvard Sandvik was preferred in part due to age—as “thin” and said the controversy gave him energy. With the victories, Iversen secured a start at next weekend’s World Cup in Trondheim, while Norway’s team management downplayed any tension.
Harald Østberg Amundsen wins Ruka mass start; France’s Mathis Desloges 6th
November 30, 2025 / L'Équipe
Norway’s Harald Østberg Amundsen captured the men’s 20 km freestyle mass start in Ruka, Finland, outsprinting teammate Einar Hedegart and Sweden’s Edvin Anger. France’s Mathis Desloges animated the race and finished sixth for a World Cup personal best, while Johannes Høsflot Klæbo struggled to 15th after winning Saturday’s sprint.
“Really cool!” — Austria’s Benjamin Moser takes 10th in Ruka sprint
November 29, 2025 / Kronen Zeitung (krone.at)
Austria’s Benjamin Moser opened the Cross-Country World Cup season in Ruka by reaching the semifinals and finishing 10th in the men’s sprint. He called the top‑10 start to the season “really cool,” noting his bigger goal is to make the top six. Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo won the men’s race in a Norwegian sweep, while Kristine Stavås Skistad took the women’s sprint.
Swedes react after Kristine Stavås Skistad crushes rivals in Ruka: “Worryingly strong”
November 29, 2025 / Eurosport Norway
Kristine Stavås Skistad dominated the women’s sprint in Ruka, winning the World Cup final ahead of Sweden’s Jonna Sundling, Maja Dahlqvist and Johanna Hagström. Swedish TV commentators called Skistad’s form “worryingly strong.” On the men’s side, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo took his 99th World Cup victory, leading a Norwegian sweep with Erik Valnes and Ansgar Evensen; Harald Østberg Amundsen was fifth. The Ruka weekend concludes with a 20 km mass start on Sunday.
Lauri Vuorinen had a bad feeling from the morning — but Matintalo–Vuorinen couple still bright spots for Finland in Ruka sprint
November 29, 2025 / Yle
At the Ruka World Cup classic sprint, Finland placed two athletes in the finals: Lauri Vuorinen in the men’s race and Johanna Matintalo in the women’s. Vuorinen, last year’s podium finisher, advanced strongly through the heats but faded on the final climb, while Norway swept the men’s podium led by Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. In the women’s race, Kristine Stavås Skistad won ahead of Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist; Matintalo returned to a World Cup final and finished sixth, as several other Finns suffered from grip issues and mishaps.
An Olympic dream forced this Iranian woman to switch sports – what life is like for a female athlete in Iran
November 29, 2025 / Yle
Iranian cross-country skier and Tehran-born architect Samaneh Beyrami Baher will compete at the Winter Olympics for the second time in February. Because of Iran’s strict dress codes and social norms, she closely monitors her public image, including photos media publish of her. Living in Marbella as a personal trainer, she prepares for Milan–Cortina 2026 after already being selected as Iran’s lone women’s cross-country quota, describing the challenges of training in Tehran versus Europe.
After a tumultuous year, Rosie Brennan is competing on her own terms with Olympic goals
November 29, 2025 / Anchorage Daily News
Two-time U.S. Olympian Rosie Brennan describes battling an undiagnosed, likely post‑viral condition that derailed her 2024–25 campaign and forced a complete overhaul of training. Working with APU coach Erik Flora, she shifted to lower‑inflammation strength work and “micro‑intervals,” and has returned to the World Cup in Ruka with an eye on qualifying for a third Olympics. The feature traces her setbacks, medical search, and renewed approach as she targets steady racing and Olympic selection by mid‑January.