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Homerun for Iivo Niskanen at Ruka Nordic

Nov 27, 2021·Cross-Country
Image by Nordic Focus

The first Distance competition of the World Cup season showed the first international comparison in this important Olympic season.

Iivo Niskanen (FIN) managed the frosty temperatures at -17° C well, that were reported from the course. With spectators being allowed back around the competition, cheering crowds warmed up the atmosphere for the 29 year-old. Niskanen was ready to show his current best form and took the lead within the first lap, 3km into the race which he enlarged to 8.3 seconds at the finish line.

“It can’t get any better than this. Starting into an Olympic season with such a great feeling and a victory and with this crowd in my home country is a special experience.”Iivo Niskanen
27.11.2021, Ruka, Finland (FIN):
Alexey Chervotkin (RUS), Iivo Niskanen (FIN), Alexander Bolshunov (RUS), (l-r) - FIS world cup cross-country, 15km men, Ruka (FIN). www.nordicfocus.com. © Thibaut/NordicFocus. Every downloaded picture is fee-liable.
FIS world cup cross-country, 15km men, Ruka (FIN)

The time to beat was set by Alexey Chervotkin (RUS), who celebrated his third podium spot at a 15k C within a year. The 26 year-old Russian will start with his 8 second gap to Niskanen in Sunday’s Pursuit.

The third spot for the podium was a close call between Alexander Bolshunov (RUS) and Erik Valnes (NOR). Only 1.1 seconds separate the two 25 year-old’s. The two time Overall World Cup winner Bolshunov claimed the last podium spot, reporting back after having everything else but an ideal summer preparation before this important season. With an illness, a bike accident, problems with his Achilles tendon and a major surgery due to an infection in his tooth gum just over one month ago, the performance of Alexander Bolshunov is still impressive.

An outstanding Distance result was also achieved by 23 year-old Canadian Antoine Cyr with hitting the 11th rank, 23 seconds off the podium.

Click here to see the full result list.

“This is huge. As an athlete you always want to reach the best potential you know you are capable of and today, I felt I was near my best and almost in the top-10 on the World Cup which is insane. It was so fun racing out there and I’m excited to know I can be there. It hurt but it felt good.”Antoine Cyr

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