Did Niilo Moilanen ski his way into the Olympic team? Aino‑Kaisa Saarinen praises: “A good showing, when thinking about the relay”

Yle skiing expert Aino‑Kaisa Saarinen says the new heat mass-start format works but she would add bonus seconds for the fastest athletes. The third stage of the Tour de Skin featured a new five‑kilometre heat mass start. On an easy course the gaps remained fairly small despite the heat format, and the overall standings did not change dramatically.

Saarinen — who raced the Tour herself — suggested awarding bonus seconds to top finishers (as in prologues) to create slightly bigger time differences. She noted that many new names came to the front in the men’s race and the gaps were very small.

Wednesday 5 km heat mass start — results (selected)

Men 1. Gus Schumacher (USA) 9:35.4 2. Benjamin Moser (AUT) +0.2 3. Lars Heggen (NOR) +0.6 4. Jules Chappaz (FRA) +0.7 5. James Clugnet (GBR) +0.7 6. Michal Novak (CZE) +5.4 7. Niilo Moilanen (FIN) +6.0 8. Emil Iversen (NOR) +7.1 9. Andreas Ree (NOR) +7.2 10. Richard Jouve (FRA) +8.4

Other Finns: 22. Iivo Niskanen +10.1, 44. Perttu Hyvärinen +14.0, 48. Petteri Koivisto +15.2, 62. Niko Anttola +19.8, 83. Lauri Vuorinen +36.2, 88. Joni Mäki +47.7

Women 1. Jessie Diggins (USA) 10:51.2 2. Emma Ribom (SWE) +5.5 3. Moa Ilar (SWE) +6.9 4. Leonie Perry (FRA) +7.5 5. Alison Mackie (CAN) +8.3 6. Eliza Rucka (POL) +8.6 7. Ebba Andersson (SWE) +9.0

Best Finns: 13. Johanna Matintalo +11.5, 16. Kerttu Niskanen +19.0, 19. Krista Pärmäkoski +24.0, 28. Vilma Nissinen +25.8, 33. Jasmin Kähärä +26.7, 36. Vilma Ryytty +27.6, 40. Jasmi Joensuu +28.2

Moilanen and Matintalo in good form

Gus Schumacher edged the men’s race. Niilo Moilanen, previously known more for classic sprinting, was the best Finn in 7th, six seconds behind Schumacher and ahead of several big names — he even beat Johannes Klæbo who finished 12th. Johanna Matintalo was Finland’s top woman in 13th, 11.5 seconds behind Jessie Diggins.

Saarinen noted both Moilanen and Matintalo have strong form and that when fitness is good even suboptimal technique can yield results. She would have expected a higher placing from Jasmi Joensuu, whose performance (40th, +28.2) was below expectations.

Tour continues with a classical 20 km pursuit on New Year’s Day, using time gaps from the overall standings. Saarinen hopes Iivo and Kerttu Niskanen can produce clean races to match their fitness.

She also pointed out that selectors are watching every race for Olympic evidence — athletes may be placed to other relay legs than their specialty — and Moilanen’s performance in a race that resembled a normal distance race is a useful indicator when considering relay selection.

Overall Tour standings after 3 of 6 stages

Men 1. Johannes H. Klæbo (NOR) 33:30 2. Lars Heggen (NOR) +0:45 3. Harald Ø. Amundsen (NOR) +0:57 11. Iivo Niskanen (FIN) +1:31 16. Perttu Hyvärinen (FIN) +1:53 21. Niko Anttola (FIN) +2:03 28. Niilo Moilanen (FIN) +2:16 34. Lauri Vuorinen (FIN) +2:24 34. Petteri Koivisto (FIN) +2:24 37. Joni Mäki (FIN) +2:27

Ristomatti Hakola withdrew.

Women 1. Jessie Diggins (USA) 27:45 2. Astrid Øyre Slind (NOR) +0:50 3. Moa Ilar (SWE) +1:00 8. Kerttu Niskanen (FIN) +1:37 9. Jasmi Joensuu (FIN) +1:38 10. Johanna Matintalo (FIN) +1:42

Tour de Skin programme: 1.1. 20 km (c) Toblach; 3.1. Sprint (c) Val di Fiemme; 4.1. 15 km (f) Val di Fiemme.

Published: 1 Jan 2026 (Yle)