Race report from FIS Cup in Olos, FIN

Two weeks prior the first races of the Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup, world class athletes tested their shape 200km north of the polar circle at the FIS Cup in Olos, Finland.

At the opening classic sprints on Friday, 9th November Erik Valnes f(NOR) won the final sprint heat ahead of Alexander Bolshunov (RUS) and Thomas Bing (GER). The confident German ladies team succeeded with Sandra Ringwald on the top of the podium and Laura Gimmler in third place. A strong Anna Svendsen from Norway finished second.

Saturday’s 10km classic races were dominated by a strong Russian men’s team who occupied the top 5 on the official result list: Ivan Yakimushkin winning followed by Ilia Semikov and Maxim Vylegzhanin. Following their team colleagues’ victories from the previous day, the German ladies’ power-team with Victoria Carl and Katharina Hennig went 1-2. Justyna Kovalczyk (POL) took third, 28 seconds behind.

An action packed weekend concluded with the distance race in free technique. Russian Andrey Melnichenko took the win at the 15km free, 11 seconds before his team collegue Alexander Bolshunov and Matti Heikkinen. A clear victory also on the ladies side on the 10km F with Natalia Neprayaeva winning, followed by Carl and Ringwald.

Complete official result lists here