Ruka Nordic (FIN): Ribom with her first World Cup victory

Nov 27, 2022·Cross-Country

25.11.2022, Ruka, Finland (FIN):
Johanna Hagstroem (SWE), Emma Ribom (SWE), Tiril Udnes Weng (NOR), (l-r) - FIS world cup cross-country, individual sprint, Ruka (FIN). www.nordicfocus.com. © Modica/NordicFocus. Every downloaded picture is fee-liable.

It was a greae place to have the annual opening of the 2022/2023 FIS Cross Country season today in Ruka (FIN). Luckily it was not as cold as last year, "only" - 10 degrees, blue skies and that we actually could spot the sun during the day, made the first race of the year a perfect frame.
The qualification did not give us any big suprises, with Ane Appelkvist Stenseth on the first for the women and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo for the men.
It had been unsure for a long time, if the Overall World Cup winner of last season could attend the season opener, as he had been struggeling with his thigh for a long time. But after the official training on thursday, Johannes confirmed that he wasn't going to set out of the World Cup opener in Ruka.

Maja Dahlqvist as the favorite
With three Swedish women on the start in the final, the Swedish team marked their presence among the top contenders right away. Maja Dahlqvist took the lead, just where she finished off last season. And up the last hill it looked all very good for Dahlqvist. But in the last turn she fell and that gave the oppurtinity for those who followed behind. Emma Ribom crossed the finish line in first position and took her maiden World Cup victory in the first World Cup competition of the new season.

"It was amazing, and it was great that I had my parents in the public today and that they could se me win my first World Cup victory" – Emma Ribom (SWE)

Triple Norway

In the men´s final there was no doubt almost the whole race. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo was the ruler from the start until the end. In the second place, Even Northug took his first individual World Cup podium too. Petter Northugs younger brother did almost everything right during the whole day. Thus, the celebration and joy was great for the two Northug brothers as they met in the media mixed zone after the race, where Petter got to interview Even and congratulate for his great success.