Yle expert names Finnish men for Olympics — Perttu Hyvärinen’s December surge paid off

Yle Sport is following the final day of the Tour de Ski.

When the men’s Tour de Ski concluded in Val di Fiemme, Finland’s best overall finisher was Perttu Hyvärinen in 20th place. Several non-traditional nations finished ahead of the Finns — for example two British skiers made higher positions.

Still, Yle Sport expert Ville Nousiainen gave the Finnish men a grade of 7 out of 10 for the Tour.

“Surprisingly good, yes,” he said.

Nousiainen based the grade on several individual strong performances: Petteri Koivisto’s career-best World Cup placing (14th) in the final stage, Hyvärinen’s signs of form, and Iivo Niskanen’s flash of speed in the individual classic time trial.

“Hyvärinen still has a lot of potential compared with recent seasons and areas to improve. Niskanen’s gap to the winner in the interval start was small, but improvement is needed,” Nousiainen added.

“There were small disappointments in a few places. Illnesses always occur on the Tour, and no team gets everyone to the finish line.”

Iivo Niskanen himself was very disappointed by his fourth place in the Tour de Ski 10-kilometre classic.

Finland’s head coach Teemu Pasanen also saw the men producing only occasional flashes of top form.

“A few good skis. Overall results OK, nothing at top positions,” Pasanen said.

Pasanen listed the best takeaways for the team: Koivisto’s steady skiing and strong uphill at the finish, Niskanen’s fourth place, Niilo Moilanen’s very good 5 km freestyle and one of his best 10 km classic performances, and Joni Mäki’s sprint on Saturday.

Olympic puzzle

Finland currently has seven Olympic quota places for the men. An eighth country slot might open depending on the nation-ranking points.

Iivo Niskanen, Lauri Vuorinen and Arsi Ruuskanen have already been selected for the Olympic team.

Ville Nousiainen would add to that group: Joni Mäki, Niko Anttola, Perttu Hyvärinen and Ristomatti Hakola. If Finland earns an eighth quota spot, Nousiainen would include Tour debutant Petteri Koivisto.

After a very difficult early season, Nousiainen believes Hyvärinen has earned an Olympic spot.

“Now there is a month left; Perttu has raised his level and can reach top‑15. Finland simply doesn’t have many others in World Cup distance races who can deliver like that,” Nousiainen argued.

Less than a month ago Hyvärinen was not on the selection list when Yle expert Kalle Lassila named his provisional Olympic squad. At the time Hyvärinen himself admitted he wasn’t even likely to make it as a ski‑tester.

“Isn’t there two months left? I’ve left Olympic choices to the last minute before. I’m not late yet. I’ve left selections to the last minute before. This is routine. No worries,” Hyvärinen said — and sounded confident he knew what he was talking about.

Hyvärinen was far from satisfied with his Tour de Ski performance and results.

Anttola has produced consistent results and has three Top‑15 World Cup distance finishes this season.

Mäki has been in the best distance form of his career and stretched to seventh in the Tour sprint at Val di Fiemme.

Hakola was 14th in the Ruka sprint. He withdrew from the Tour after the opening stage citing illness, and later welcomed his first child.

Hyvärinen’s season best now is 12th in the Tour de Ski 10 km classic; he was also 15th in the 20 km classic pursuit.

In Nousiainen’s suggested Olympic lineup Niilo Moilanen would be left out even if Finland gained an eighth quota.

Moilanen finished seventh in the Tour’s special 5 km heat mass start race. Expert Aino‑Kaisa Saarinen considered that a strong Olympic signal, possibly even with relay implications, though she also requested further evidence from Moilanen in uphill finishes — Moilanen was only 59th on the final climb.

– Moilanen has skied good qualifying times in sprints. But looking at sprint results, others are ahead: Hakola and Emil Liekari have better sprint records. If you look for pure sprinters they’re ahead. Niilo has only sprint results whereas others can ski many distances. Finland needs distance skiers and resilience for relays, Nousiainen summarized.

Moilanen has not reached sprint semifinals this season; his best, like Hakola’s, is 14th.

Koivisto’s case rests on his proficiency in skating (freestyle).

Showing opportunities are now few. Next weekend the Finnish national championships (SM) will be held in Kuopio with a pairsprint (classic), 10 km (freestyle) and a sprint (classic).

According to Nousiainen the SMs are not officially a selection trial.

“They never have been; international performances matter. SMs have been considered a bit, but it’s unlikely anyone will leap onto the team via SMs. You’d have to be a rocket. Some borderline cases, like Koivisto, Hakola, maybe Moilanen, can be considered.”