Ruka ready to roll as Rettenegger eyes maiden World Cup win
Nov 26, 2024·Nordic Combined
A renewed battle for supremacy in the men’s FIS Nordic Combined begins on Friday as the Finnish resort of Ruka prepares to host the first three competitions of the new World Cup season.
Two of the leading three competitors from last year approach the new campaign with lingering doubts over their physical fitness after recent injury issues, which could open the way for a new or surprise winner.
Five-time champion Jarl Magnus Riiber, seeking a record sixth title, has endured “a summer of knee problems” as well as a lingering stomach virus which has impacted his training.
But given the 27-year-old Norwegian started last season by dislocating his shoulder during the PCR jump in Ruka, but still finished second in the Compact premiere the next day before winning the Gundersen and Mass Start events, it would be foolish to under-estimate his chances this weekend.
“The goal in Ruka is to start the season strong and build a solid foundation for the rest of the year,” said Riiber, who has a record 73 World Cup victories and has set his sights on a “dream” milestone of 100 wins.
“After a challenging summer and autumn, the main focus has been on stabilizing my health and regaining form. Training has been adapted step by step without getting any setbacks.
Austria’s Johannes Lamparter, the 2022-23 champion who finished third overall last season, has also been hampered by a knee problem building up to the new season and admits he is “not at 100% yet”.
That may open the way for team-mate Stefan Rettenegger, who finished runner-up to Riiber last season, to target his maiden World Cup victory this weekend.
The 22-year-old earned his first World Cup podium in Ruka a year ago in the Mass Start event, which proved to be the first of 11 top-three finishes in individual competitions.
“It was a really nice start to the season,” he recalled. “Ruka is always very special for us athletes. You don’t really know what is coming from the other guys so it’s very exciting. With the cold temperatures and everything being white, it is like real winter. I really like the hill there and the cross-country part is also very nice.
“It is not easy to get a World Cup victory when you are fighting against the best like Jarl and Johannes – it has to happen on the day.
“I think I am on the right path, with the way I am going and the way I train. I am still quite young so there is still room for improvement. The feeling of competing for first place is something special. It is different to when you are around 10th.”
Ruka will again launch the season with a Compact event (featuring a 7.5km cross-country run) on Friday, 29 November, before a traditional Gundersen (10km run) on Saturday, 30 November.
The weekend will finish on Sunday, 1 December, with a Mass Start, the only format where the cross-country part takes place before the ski jumping.
All competitors start the 10 km cross-country race at the same time, with the final times then converted into points for the ski jumping section on Ruka’s large hill.
Other possible contenders to look out for include Rettenegger’s elder brother Thomas, plus Riiber’s Norway team-mates Jens Lurås Oftebro – winner of the opening Compact event last season - and Jorgen Graabak, who finished on the podium in four of the first five competitions.
Kristjan Ilves (EST), who claimed two successive second places on home snow in Otepää last year and finished the season strongly with three podiums in the last four events, and German veteran Johannes Rydzek – who enjoyed the last of his 17 World Cup wins in January 2019 - also impressed during the Summer Grand Prix.
“It needs some more guys to compete against such a dominant athlete like Jarl (Riiber),” said Austria head coach Christoph Bieler. “It’s always better to have a strong team rather than just one guy to compete for the wins.”
FACTS AND FIGURES
World Cup champion Jarl Magnus Riiber (NOR) finished second in the season-opening event in Ruka (FIN) a year ago, before going on to win the next four – two in Ruka and two more in Lillehammer (NOR).
Stefan Retteneger (AUT), runner-up to Riiber last season, earned his first World Cup podium in Ruka last November, the first of 11 in individual events, but is still chasing his first World Cup victory.
Jens Luras Oftebro (NOR) reached his first World Cup podium with third place in Ruka in 2019, earned his first World Cup win there in 2020 and his fifth last year, in the season-opening Compact event.
Ruka will host the first three of 19 men’s World Cup competitions this season, in eight different venues.
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