Cross Country Skiing
Johannes Klaebo claims 100th World Cup win in Trondheim sprint
December 05, 2025 / L'Équipe
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo won the classic sprint at home in Trondheim, marking his 100th World Cup victory in just 177 starts. He led a largely Norwegian final ahead of teammate Oskar Opstad Vike, with Sweden’s Alvar Myhlback third; on the women’s side, Johanna Hagström topped an all‑Swedish podium from Emma Ribom and Linn Svahn. French sprinters struggled: Jules Chappaz exited in the quarters, Richard Jouve also fell short of the semis, and Lucas Chanavat, returning from injury, finished 40th in qualifying.
How many Russian skiers have been tested for doping in recent seasons – Yle obtains FIS testing figures
December 05, 2025 / Yle Urheilu
The International Ski Federation (FIS) told Yle that Russian cross‑country skiers accounted for 13.9% of all FIS‑commissioned out‑of‑competition tests over the past two seasons, totaling 368 tests out of 2,641 for cross‑country. Although Russians have been banned from FIS competitions since February 2022, FIS says it has maintained a consistent testing program, using international sample collectors and WADA‑accredited labs in Istanbul and Cologne. Three Russian athletes have received bans since the war began, none of them cross‑country skiers, and their violations concerned whereabouts failures.
Lucas Chanavat returns to the French team to race the Trondheim sprint
December 04, 2025 / L'Équipe
After a tibial stress fracture sidelined him since mid‑September, French sprinter Lucas Chanavat rejoins the national team for Friday’s classic sprint at the Trondheim Cross‑Country World Cup. Coaches caution his preparation has been delayed and this will be his only start of the weekend, with Davos’ freestyle sprint on December 13 seen as a better gauge of form ahead of Milano–Cortina 2026.
Russian junior world champion to NRK: “I hope we can race the World Cup in Davos”
December 03, 2025 / Yle
Russian U23 world champion Saveliy Korostelev says it is unrealistic for Russians and Belarusians to compete in Trondheim this week but hopes they can enter the Davos World Cup on 12–14 December. The piece explains CAS’s ruling allowing 17 Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at Milano–Cortina 2026 as neutrals and outlines FIS’s strict neutrality and eligibility criteria. Finnish Olympic Committee chair Petteri Kilpinen criticizes the decision on Olympic‑truce grounds and says Finland’s position remains that participation should be considered only once there is a ceasefire or peace progress.
Unusual Finnish selection dilemma in cross-country skiing — Perttu Hyvärinen’s decision underlines a ruthless Olympic fight
December 03, 2025 / Yle
Finland left A-team athletes Remi Lindholm and Perttu Hyvärinen off the roster for the Trondheim World Cup as both manage form and health issues early in the season. Head coach Teemu Pasanen says Hyvärinen, in agreement with his personal coach, will skip Trondheim to train and aim for Davos and the Tour de Ski, with Olympic selection battles tightening due to Finland’s limited seven-man quota. Several men are vying for spots, while the women’s team is more settled with three already selected for Milan–Cortina 2026.
Trondheim mayor criticizes possible participation of Russian athletes in Granåsen World Cup
December 02, 2025 / NRK Trøndelag
Trondheim mayor Kent Ranum says he hopes no Russian athletes appear at this weekend’s World Cup races in Granåsen after a ruling allowed Russians to compete internationally. Event leaders note the timing and entry deadlines make participation in Trondheim unlikely, but discussions with FIS are ongoing. Russian head coach Egor Sorin joked they could arrive by helicopter, while skier Veronika Stepanova said she will not race in Trondheim.
“Unacceptable!” Olympic champion Bolshunov lashes out and injures rival after sprint semifinal
December 02, 2025 / krone.at
At a domestic sprint event in Kirovsk, Russian Olympic cross‑country champion Alexander Bolshunov attacked fellow skier Alexander Bakurov in the finish area after both missed the final. Bakurov suffered an elbow injury and expects about two weeks out, calling the behavior “unacceptable.” Bolshunov suggested he might be banned for several races, but the penalty was limited to one race; Russians remain barred from FIS World Cups due to the war in Ukraine.
Iivo Niskanen in, Perttu Hyvärinen and Remi Lindholm out – Finland names squads for the next World Cups
December 02, 2025 / Yle
Finland announced its teams for upcoming Nordic World Cup stops: cross-country skiing and Nordic combined in Trondheim, and ski jumping in Wisła. Iivo Niskanen will compete in Trondheim after skipping Sunday’s 20 km free in Ruka, while Perttu Hyvärinen and Remi Lindholm are left out. The article lists full Finnish rosters for cross-country, Nordic combined and ski jumping, and notes women’s Nordic combined begins its World Cup in Trondheim, while Wisła hosts HS134 large hill events for both genders.
Cross-country skiing: Good news — William Poromaa and Linn Svahn return for Trondheim World Cup
December 02, 2025 / SVT Sport
Sweden’s Linn Svahn and William Poromaa, who missed the Ruka World Cup opener due to illness, are back in the squad for this weekend’s Trondheim World Cup at Granåsen. Head coach Anders Byström also recalls rising star Alvar Myhlback and hands a national team debut to 24-year‑old Rikard Vestin, while veterans Jens Burman and Calle Halfvarsson remain out after poor form in Gällivare. SVT lists the full Swedish roster for sprint classic, 20 km skiathlon, and 10 km freestyle, along with the event schedule (Dec 5–7).
Yle expert Aino-Kaisa Saarinen dismayed by CAS ruling allowing Russian and Belarusian skiers as neutrals: “I don’t understand the logic”
December 02, 2025 / Yle
The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned FIS’s blanket ban, ruling that Russian and Belarusian athletes in FIS skiing disciplines who meet IOC neutrality criteria must be allowed to compete at the Milano–Cortina Olympics. Finnish cross‑country great and Yle pundit Aino‑Kaisa Saarinen criticizes the decision, questioning both the consistency with earlier exclusions and how neutrality will be verified in practice. She doubts top Russians tied to the military will qualify and is skeptical that any reliable system can screen support for the war.
Russia wins CAS appeal – athletes allowed to compete in Olympic Nordic events as neutrals
December 02, 2025 / NRK Sport
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld an appeal by Russian and Belarusian athletes against FIS’s blanket ban, compelling FIS to admit neutral-status athletes in its competitions and Olympic qualifiers. FIS now requires athletes seeking neutral status to email an application and pass strict criteria regarding military ties, wartime support and anti‑doping compliance. The ruling opens the door for participation in cross-country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined at Milano–Cortina 2026, with immediate implications for World Cup events, including Trondheim and Davos.
CAS opens door for Russian and Belarusian skiers to compete at the 2026 Olympics as neutral athletes
December 02, 2025 / Yle
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Russian and Belarusian athletes in FIS disciplines who meet IOC eligibility criteria must be allowed to take part in FIS qualification events and, consequently, the 2026 Winter Olympics as neutral athletes. The decision partially overturns FIS’s October ban, citing FIS rules on non‑discrimination and political neutrality, while upholding that only athletes meeting neutrality criteria are eligible. Finnish Ski Association chair Sirpa Korkatti urged patience for FIS guidance, while figures such as Veronika Stepanova and NRK analyst Jan‑Petter Saltvedt reacted to the ruling’s implications.