Vantaan Hiihtoseura’s Jasmi Joensuu and Eevi-Inkeri Tossavainen claimed a dramatic women’s team sprint title in Rovaniemi after a thrilling final-straight comeback, while Iivo Niskanen powered Puijon Hiihtoseura to victory in the men’s race with a dominant anchor leg.

Athletes from Vantaan Hiihtoseura, Jasmi Joensuu and Eevi-Inkeri Tossavainen, won the women’s Finnish Championship team sprint in the classical technique in Rovaniemi. Ounasvaaran Hiihtoseura finished second and Vuokatti Ski Team Kainuu third.

The men’s race was won by Puijon Hiihtoseura, represented by Iivo Niskanen and Petteri Koivisto. Jämin Jänne (Markus Vuorela, Ristomatti Hakola) finished second, and Pohti SkiTeam Pyhäjärvi (Niilo Moilanen, Joni Mäki) third.

“The excitement grew during the race. I got onto the final leg relatively fresh,” Niskanen said in a television interview with Yle.

Niskanen pulled away from the others on the anchor leg with a long finishing sprint and described his performance as “pretty good for the situation.”

“Quite okay. There wasn’t really anything to expect,” Niskanen said.

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Women decided in a sprint finish

The women’s race was decided in a sprint finish on the home straight. Tossavainen started the anchor leg first with a lead of just over ten seconds, but Ounasvaara’s Johanna Matintalo caught and passed her. However, in the final straight Tossavainen surged back into the lead and to victory.

“I knew that if I could get onto the final straight in someone’s slipstream, I could win it,” Tossavainen said in Yle’s TV interview.

“It felt like there were more supporters for Johanna in the crowd. I had good skis and trusted myself.”

Joensuu was pleased after the race with the team’s decision to put Tossavainen on the anchor leg.

“We weren’t the pre-race favorites, but this was an exciting race and I’m really happy we dared to make such a bold decision. It was great to watch the final straight,” Joensuu said.

Matintalo admitted that sprint finishes are not her strength, unlike Tossavainen, who powered to victory.

“Of course you always want to go for the win. It didn’t quite go the way I had hoped at the end,” Matintalo said.

Ounasvaara’s Josefiina Böök said she had been nervous before the race.

“I’ve been really nervous all morning about how I’d manage, but I made it through,” Böök laughed.

Originally, the Finnish Championship team sprints were supposed to take place in January in Kuopio, but the event was canceled at that time.

Finnish Championship Team Sprint results, Rovaniemi:

Women:

1. Vantaan Hiihtoseura (Jasmi Joensuu, Eevi-Inkeri Tossavainen) 21:24.09
2. Ounasvaaran Hiihtoseura (Josefiina Böök, Johanna Matintalo) +0.64
3. Vuokatti Ski Team Kainuu (Vilma Nissinen, Jasmin Kähärä) +3.49

Men:

1. Puijon Hiihtoseura (Petteri Koivisto, Iivo Niskanen) 18:56.54
2. Jämin Jänne (Markus Vuorela, Ristomatti Hakola) +1.13
3. Pohti SkiTeam Pyhäjärvi (Niilo Moilanen, Joni Mäki) +1.27

Read more about the Rovaniemi race weekend here.