Cross-country: Tough conditions in Ruka mass start – “Scary”

Challenging weather hit Sunday’s World Cup mass start races in Ruka, with ice and temperatures around 0°C making the tracks treacherous.

Several skiers crashed early in the women’s race due to the icy sections. Ebba Andersson, who finished fifth, told SVT Sport that she never felt fully in control on some downhills, especially as she is nursing an unstable knee. For much of the race it looked like Sweden might sweep the podium, but Jonna Sundling accelerated late to take the win, while Frida Karlsson and Andersson slipped to fourth and fifth.

Sundling said the conditions demanded constant focus to keep the skis under control, particularly on long climbs and in the corners, and admitted it felt “a bit scary.”

Earlier, the men’s 20 km mass start was also shaped by the slick tracks. Edvin Anger placed third, while Johan Ekberg described the tense pack dynamics—worrying that a skier could fall in front of him and ruin his race—yet also called the shoulder‑to‑shoulder fighting “fun,” noting the atmosphere was tougher than usual.