Swedes and Norwegians set the pace as women's 2024/25 Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Begins in Ruka

The 2024/25 Cross-Country Skiing World Cup kicks off this weekend in Ruka. The season will commence with the 10-kilometer classic-style race, with the women’s competition starting at 11 am, followed by the men’s at 1:40 pm.

The athlete drawing the most attention this weekend is Therese Johaug, who is making her highly anticipated comeback after a hiatus of a few years. Johaug began her season last week in Beitostølen, Norway, where she dominated the 10-kilometer classic race, securing victory with an impressive margin of nearly 40 seconds over second-place Heidi Weng.

In Bruksvallen, Sweden, several Swedish athletes began their season. A standout performance came from Ebba Andersson, who triumphed in both the 10-kilometer free and classic races. Frida Karlsson, who faced challenges during her preparation for the season, finished in second place, trailing Andersson by a mere 10 seconds.

Meanwhile, in Olos, Finland, German skier Victoria Carl claimed two victories. After a stellar performance in the 12-kilometer race, Carl finished more than 30 seconds ahead of Teresa Stadlober, with Kerttu Niskanen of Finland securing third place.

Although Johaug’s dominant win in the season opener was a clear highlight, the competition in one of the most demanding courses on the World Cup circuit promises to be fierce, with rivals eager to close the gap and challenge for the top spots.

Text: Sanja Karhunen
Image: Teemu Moisio