The cross-country skiing World Cup season 2025/2026 starts this week in Ruka, Finland, and the Finnish national team for the opening weekend has now been announced.

Ruka, Finland, is the venue for the cross-country skiing World Cup premiere. The event begins on Friday, November 28, with a 10km interval start race in classic technique. On Saturday, November 29, a classic sprint is on the program, and on Sunday, November 30, the opening weekend concludes with a 20km mass start race in freestyle technique. 

Also Read – Cross-country World Cup: Complete program for Ruka

In a press release, the Finnish Ski Association confirmed the national team selection for Ruka.

Read More
Norwegian national team for the Ruka World Cup premiere
Swedish national team for the Ruka World Cup premiere 

Finnish National Team for the Ruka World Cup 2025/2026

10KM INTERVAL START CLASSIC

WOMEN

• Anni Alakoski
• Jasmi Joensuu
• Oona Kettunen
• Anne Kyllönen
• Nora Kytäjä (U23)
• Johanna Matintalo
• Kerttu Niskanen
• Vilma Nissinen
• Krista Pärmäkoski
• Hanna Ray
• Vilma Ryytty
• Elsa Torvinen (U23)

MEN

• Ville Ahonen
• Niko Anttola (U23)
• Ristomatti Hakola
• Perttu Hyvärinen
• Petteri Koivisto
• Iivo Niskanen
• Eero Rantala (U23)
• Arsi Ruuskanen
• Alexander Ståhlberg
• Leevi Tarjanne (U23)
• Markus Vuorela
• Lauri Vuorinen

SPRINT CLASSIC

WOMEN

• Ella Noora Haapalehto (U23)
• Jasmi Joensuu
• Vilma Jylhä
• Anne Kyllönen
• Nora Kytäjä (U23)
• Jasmin Kähärä
• Katri Lylynperä
• Johanna Matintalo
• Hilla Niemelä
• Kerttu Niskanen
• Krista Pärmäkoski
• Amanda Saari

MEN

• Olli Ahonen
• Ville Ahonen
• Juuso Haarala
• Ristomatti Hakola
• Emil Liekari
• Wiljam Mattila
• Ike Melnits (U23)
• Niilo Moilanen
• Joni Mäki
• Eero Rantala (U23)
• Markus Vuorela
• Lauri Vuorinen

20KM MASS START FREESTYLE

WOMEN

• Anni Alakoski
• Oona Kettunen
• Jasmin Kähärä
• Hilla Niemelä
• Kerttu Niskanen
• Vilma Nissinen
• Eveliina Piippo
• Krista Pärmäkoski
• Selene Rossi (U23)
• Vilma Ryytty
• Anna-Kaisa Saari
• Elsa Torvinen (U23)

MEN

• Niko Anttola (U23)
• Ville Ahonen
• Ristomatti Hakola
• Perttu Hyvärinen
• Petteri Koivisto
• Remi Lindholm
• Joni Mäki
• Iivo Niskanen
• Kalle Parantainen
• Veeti Pyykkö
• Eero Rantala (U23)
• Arsi Ruuskanen

FACTS Ruka World Cup Season 2025/2026

• When: Friday, November 28 to Sunday, November 30 
• Who: Elite national skiers – women and men
• Where: Ruka, Finland
• What: FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Ruka, Finland

PROGRAM

Friday, November 28: 10km Interval Start Classic (More details can be found HERE)

• 10:30 CET: 10km Individual C, Women
• 13:15 CET: 10km Individual C, Men

Saturday, November 29: Sprint Classic (More details can be found HERE)

• 8:55 CET: Sprint Qualify C, Women
• 8:55 CET: Sprint Qualify C, Men 
• 11:25 CET: Sprint Final C, Women 
• 11:25 CET: Sprint Final C, Men

Sunday, November 30: 20km Mass Start Freestyle (More details can be found HERE)

• 10:00 CET: 20km Mass Start F, Men
• 11:45 CET: 20km Mass Start F, Women

After Ruka, the World Cup heads to Norway (Trondheim). Then, to Switzerland (Davos) and the Tour de Ski (Italy). This period is followed by competitions in January in Germany (Oberhof) and Switzerland (Goms).

Then, it’s time for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games from February 7 to 22, 2026.

After Milano-Cortina, the World Cup ends the season with weekends in Sweden (Falun), Finland (Lahti), Norway (Drammen-Oslo), and the USA (Lake Placid).

Read More: Cross-country skiing World Cup: Calendar for the 2025/2026 winter season 

2025/2026 Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Calendar

Before Christmas

November 28-30, 2025: Ruka, Finland (Week 1)

• 28/11: 10km Interval Start Classic, Men
• 28/11: 10km Interval Start Classic, Women
• 29/11: Sprint Classic, Men
• 29/11: Sprint Classic, Women
• 30/11: 20km Mass Start Freestyle, Men
• 30/11: 20km Mass Start Freestyle, Women

December 5-7, 2025: Trondheim, Norway (Week 2)

• 05/12: Sprint Classic, Men
• 05/12: Sprint Classic, Women
• 06/12: 20km Skiathlon Classic/Freestyle, Men
• 06/12: 20km Skiathlon Classic/Freestyle, Women
• 07/12: 10km Interval Start Freestyle, Men
• 07/12: 10km Interval Start Freestyle, Women 

December 12-14, 2025: Davos, Switzerland (Week 3)

• 12/12: Team Sprint Freestyle, Men
• 12/12: Team Sprint Freestyle, Women
• 13/12: Sprint Freestyle, Men
• 13/12: Sprint Freestyle, Women
• 14/12: 10km Interval Start Freestyle, Men
• 14/12: 10km Interval Start Freestyle, Women

Tour de Ski (Toblach and Val di Fiemme)

December 28, 2025 – January 1, 2026: Toblach, Italy (Week 4)

• 28/12: Sprint Freestyle, Men
• 28/12: Sprint Freestyle, Women
• 29/12: 10km Interval Start Classic, Men
• 29/12: 10km Interval Start Classic, Women
• 31/12: 5km Heat Mass Start Freestyle, Men
• 31/12: 5km Heat Mass Start Freestyle, Women
• 01/01: 20km Pursuit Classic, Men
• 01/01: 20km Pursuit Classic, Women

January 3-4, 2026: Val di Fiemme, Italy (Week 5)

• 03/01: Sprint Classic, Men
• 03/01: Sprint Classic, Women
• 04/01: 10km Mass Start Freestyle, Men – Cermis Final Climb
• 04/01: 10km Mass Start Freestyle, Women – Cermis Final Climb

After the Tour de Ski and before the Winter Olympic Games

January 17-18, 2026: Oberhof, Germany (Week 6)

• 17/01: Sprint Freestyle, Men
• 17/01: Sprint Freestyle, Women
• 18/01: 10km Interval Start Classic, Men
• 18/01: 10km Interval Start Classic, Women

January 23-25, 2026: Goms, Switzerland (Week 7)

• 23/01 Team Sprint Freestyle, Men
• 23/01: Team Sprint Freestyle, Women
• 24/01: Sprint Classic, Men
• 24/01: Sprint Classic, Women
• 25/01: 20km Mass Start Classic, Men
• 25/01: 20km Mass Start Classic, Women

Winter Olympic Games

February 7-22, 2026: Milano-Cortina, Italy

• 07/02: 20km Skiathlon, Women
• 08/02: 20km Skiathlon, Men
• 10/02: Sprint Classic, Women
• 10/02: Sprint Classic, Men
• 12/02: 10km Interval Start Freestyle, Women
• 13/02: 10km Interval Start Freestyle, Men
• 14/02: 4×7.5km Relay Classic/Freestyle, Women
• 15/02: 4×7.5km Relay Classic/Freestyle, Men
• 18/02: Team Sprint Freestyle, Women
• 18/02: Team Sprint Freestyle, Men
• 21/02: 50km Mass Start Classic, Men
• 22/02: 50km Mass Start Classic, Women

Complete program for the Winter Olympic Games can be found HERE

Also Read: Program for cross-country skiing at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

Final Stages

February 28 – March 1, 2026: Falun, Sweden (Week 8)

• 28/02: Sprint Freestyle, Men
• 28/02: Sprint Freestyle, Women
• 01/03: 20km Skiathlon Classic/Freestyle, Men
• 01/03: 20km Skiathlon Classic/Freestyle, Women

March 7-8, 2026: Lahti, Finland (Week 9)

• 07/03: Sprint Freestyle, Men
• 07/03: Sprint Freestyle, Women
• 08/03: 10km Interval Start Classic, Men
• 08/03: 10km Interval Start Classic, Women

March 12-14, 2026: Drammen – Oslo, Norway (Week 10)

• 12/03: Sprint Classic, Men
• 12/03: Sprint Classic, Women
• 14/03: 50km Mass Start Freestyle, Men
• 14/03: 50km Mass Start Freestyle, Women

March 20-22, 2026: Lake Placid (Finals)

• 20/03: 10km Interval Start Classic, Men
• 20/03: 10km Interval Start Classic, Women
• 21/03: Sprint Freestyle, Men
• 21/03: Sprint Freestyle, Women
• 22/03: 20km Mass Start Freestyle, Men
• 22/03: 20km Mass Start Freestyle, Women

Additional information about the Cross-Country Skiing World Cup can be found HERE

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.

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