Poromaa claims first World Cup victory to complete successful weekend for Sweden in Les Rousses

What a weekend for Sweden. What a day for William Poromaa (SWE). It’s been a disappointing season for a country with such a proud cross-country skiing tradition, who have watched their Scandinavian neighbours Norway largely dominate the FIS World Cup in both the men’s and women’s events.

But three victories out of six in Les Rousses, France – not to mention three other podium places – has gone some way to redressing the balance. It also gives cause for optimism ahead of the world championships in Trondheim, Norway next month.

That many of Norway’s big names, including Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, Harald Oestberg Amundsen and Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, were missing won’t matter to Poromaa, whose victory in the 20km Classic Mass Start on Sunday was his first in the World Cup after five previous podiums.

Poromaa’s biggest near miss came in this race at this venue two years ago, when he came into the last stretch in front, only to be overhauled by Klaebo and Iivo Niskanen (FIN). This time Poromaa would get the better of the Finn over the closing stages.

“It’s amazing,” Poromaa said. “I mean, I’ve been waiting for this victory for a long time and I’ve been struggling quite a bit at the beginning of this season so it’s amazing to be in Les Rousses and take the victory today.”

After Frida Karlsson dominated the women’s race earlier in the day, the men’s 20km was much more fiercely contested, with a large noisy crowd in Les Rousses there to witness the action.

While Karlsson led from the front the whole way, the men decided to share the early workload on a course that has quickly gained a reputation for its brutal uphill sections.

The challenging layout seemed to play into the hands of Hugo Lapalus (FRA), winner of the inaugural climber’s bib at the recent Tour de Ski. As the bells rang, the horns sounded and the cheers rang out, the home favourite made light work of the steep inclines, but in a leading group of 15, he was quickly reeled in on the downhill sections.

After four laps, just one second separated the top six, until finally Poromaa and Lapalus made a break for it, putting six seconds between themselves and the rest.

The experienced Niskanen and double world champion Simen Hegstad Krueger (NOR) were having none of it, however. By the end of lap six they, along with Poromaa, had opened up a gap of their own, setting up a three-way fight to the finish on the final lap.

Poromaa attacked the climb out of the stadium that runs parallel to the ski jump to break Krueger’s resistance but Niskanen – the Olympic 15km champion and a classic specialist – was determined to stay the distance.

Did he have the double poling power to beat the Swede, though, the younger man by nine years? Not quite. Poromaa, 24, always had his nose in front down the long, undulating home straight and wasn’t to be denied a first victory.

He crossed the line 0.9s ahead, screaming with delight before going across to embrace his coaches. Krueger was five seconds back in third.

“It’s crazy,” Poromaa said. “You’ve been waiting your whole life for this so this is a huge day for me. Also, I had a lot of pressure from yesterday because Edvin [Anger] did such a good race [winning the Sprint Classic] so I was mentally prepared to go for the victory today.”

Krueger’s third podium of the season means he now has a healthy lead at the top of the World Cup distance standings with Klaebo still way out in front in the race for the Crystal Globe and overall title.

The FIS Cross Country World Cup now moves on to Engadin, Switzerland, beginning with the 4x7.5km Relay on Friday 24 January.

For the full results from Les Rousses, click here

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