Austrian star who ‘saved’ the Ruka mass start could be Iivo Niskanen’s trump card at the Olympics

The suitability of Ruka’s course for mass starts has been questioned due to its profile, with combined athlete Eero Hirvonen noting a long downhill that allows the field to recover before the next climb, often leading to large packs until the finish.

In Sunday’s men’s 20 km freestyle mass start, however, Sweden’s Edvin Anger and Austria’s Mika Vermeulen attacked well before the finale and worked smoothly together, splitting the peloton. Yle expert Ville Nousiainen praised their seamless cooperation, saying the race would have been dull without them.

The victory ultimately went to Norway’s Harald Østberg Amundsen, with compatriot Einar Hedegart second and Anger third. Finnish skiers could not contend at the front; Iivo Niskanen did not start, and the best Finn was Joni Mäki in 26th, followed by Ristomatti Hakola (28th), Arsi Ruuskanen (29th), Kalle Parantainen (30th) and Veeti Pyykkö (32nd).

Given that the Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympic 50 km classic will be a mass start, Nousiainen suggested Niskanen might even propose tactical cooperation with Vermeulen if both are in top form, to avoid a large-group sprint against finishers like Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Amundsen. He argued that strong, sustained breakaways can succeed at the Olympics when the pace is kept high.

Challenging conditions added to the drama: the icy track made control difficult, with speeds reported around 70 km/h on the Valkeisvaara descent. Hakola described the surface as exceptionally slick and dangerous, while Mäki said staying alert and having stable skis were crucial. Head coach Teemu Pasanen called the conditions tricky—glide was good for everyone, but skating remains a weaker technique for the Finns.