Therese Johaug takes Ruka Triple Tour lead

After last season abrupt ending at Oslo's 30km C and the phenomenal fight along the final stretches between Therese Johaug and Frida Karlsson, all eyes were set on the duo for the first distance competition of the new season. Indeed, Therese Johaug takes home another victory from Ruka's 10km C but had to fight hard for the lead.

The 10km C course of Ruka Nordic is marked by steep climbs and fast downhills as well as flat sections in which athletes have to work hard to take the momentum onto the next element. Therese Johaug knows well how to win on this course, as she did the last two seasons. But since young Swede Frida Karlsson has entered the stage, the competition is even higher as before.

Frida Karlsson, started with bib 27 headed into the competition in high pace, taking the fastest sector time until the first intermediate at 1.2km. Only after the strenuous first climb, Karlsson found her pace and pulled through the competition, closely being followed by Johaug starting with bib 30 who only found herself in the lead half way into the race, crossing the finish line with a 21.8 second margin to Frida Karlsson. Third on the podium is Karlsson's team colleague Ebba Andersson who manages the podium climb only 0.1 second ahead of Tatiana Sorina (former Aleshina), who impressively returns from last year's maternity leave.

Sunday's pursuit set up will put Therese Johaug with a headstart of 16 seconds into the race before her successors follow between 16 and 24 seconds apart.

Click here for todays results.