Nyenget steals the show in 'inspiring' fight with local hero Niskanen

Martin Loewstroem Nyenget finished sixth in the Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup distance ranking last year, and 18th in the overall rankings.

In the star-studded first distance race of the 2023/24 season, in Ruka, Finland, on Saturday, however, the 31-year-old Norwegian earned the podium top spot. Nyenget won the men's 10km classic race before runner-up Iivo Niskanen (FIN) and Erik Valnes (NOR) in third place, claiming the second World Cup victory of his career.

"Ten kilometres is always hard but on this day it was fantastic to race, with these amazing skis, it was a really good feeling," Nyenget said.

It was a hard-fought win. When the home favourite Niskanen had crossed the finish line, to the sound of the audience chanting "Iivo, Iivo, Iivo", it had looked like the 31-year-old Finn was going to get to celebrate a victory with his fans.

But Niskanen, with starting number 40, had most of the big names behind him and Nyenget, with bib No.66, had a different story to tell. The Norwegian finished 2.9 seconds faster than Niskanen, who left the leader's chair, slamming his pole in the snow in frustration.

"When I was in the race I was hearing the split times and I was thinking that it was a good gap," Niskanen said.

"But when I was in the finish and saw that Martin was coming and took the lead after 5k, I knew that I would maybe lose, because he was coming from behind and knew the situation."

Niskanen had crushed the competition in a pre-World Cup season classic 10km race in Muonio, Finland, two weeks ago. He had led the race from start to finish and won by a margin of 24 seconds before skiers including Nyenget and Norwegian world champion Paal Golberg.

Despite another strong display and a second place, less than three seconds after the winner, Niskanen did not hide his disappointment.

"It was a bad race for me, one of the worst in my life in Ruka," he said.

"I was expecting much more but today I didn't have an open body so it wasn't that good as two weeks ago in the season opening.

"I need to improve my shape to get back to the victories."

Starting 13 minutes after Niskanen, Nyenget had throughout the race been well aware of what times he had to beat – and which skier he was up against.

"I just heard 'Iivo, Iivo' (from the crowds) so it was a good feeling to take home the win," the Norwegian said.

"I was like one second behind, then we were even, then I was like one second, two seconds in front, it was inspiring to fight against Iivo, he is an incredible skier and an incredible classic skier, so I am so proud to take that win today."

Valnes, who won the men's sprint on Friday, showed he is a force to be reckoned with this season as he stayed in the top-three the whole race to claim the last podium spot 9.7 seconds after Nyenget. The result places the 27-year-old at the top of the overall rankings after two days of World Cup competitions.

His teammate, last season's distance crystal globe winner Paal Golberg, finished fourth, 1.1 second behind Valnes.

Great Britain's Andrew Musgrave started his season with a solid performance that gave him a fifth-place, 16.5 seconds after the winner. Harald Oestberg Amundsen from Norway finished sixth, 12.5 seconds behind the Brit, making it four Norwegians in the top-six.

The main Norwegian contender for the overall crystal globe, however, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, had to settle for a 14th place.

The World Cup action in Ruka concludes on Sunday with the 20km mass start free.

Click here for full results from the men's 10km classic.

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