The sprint events at the Ruka Suomen Cup concluded on Saturday with Niilo Moilanen’s powerful finishing kick, earning him victory over championship medalists Joni Mäki and Lauri Vuorinen. Jasmi Joensuu claimed a clear and expected win in the women’s classic-style race.

Moilanen, representing Pohti SkiTeam, beat his teammate Mäki by just two hundredths of a second. Ounasvaara Ski Club’s Vuorinen finished 18 hundredths behind, taking third place.

“First individual Suomen Cup podium. It was great to open the season by stepping onto the podium,” Moilanen said happily in an interview with Yle TV.

Moilanen raced the sprint with strong physical and tactical execution.

“The work is slowly starting to show. I’ve grown in every area,” he continued.

The victory gives Moilanen promising prospects for next week’s Ruka World Cup races and the entire Olympic season. Still, he is not letting his thoughts drift toward the upcoming year or the Milano-Cortina Olympics.

“I’ll take one race and one day at a time and not think too far ahead. We’ll do everything as well as we possibly can,” Moilanen said.

Mäki and Vuorinen both aimed for the win, but neither regretted the narrow defeat.

“Positive signs,” Mäki summarized after his first races of the season.

Vuorinen lost too much time on the final climb.

“Some rest early in the week. Hopefully I’ll get some sharper legs for next weekend,” Vuorinen said, already focusing on the World Cup opener.

Suomen Cup weekend 2/6, sprint 1.4km C – Men

1. Niilo Moilanen, Pohti SkiTeam 2:35.42
2. Joni Mäki Pohti, SkiTeam +0.02
3. Lauri Vuorinen, OunasvHS +0.18
4. Juuso Haarala, Pohti SkiTeam +1.83
5. Emil Liekari, Vuokatti Ski Team +2.87
6. Markus Vuorela, Jämin Jänne +5.78

Joensuu pleased with strong feeling

Vantaa Ski Club’s Jasmi Joensuu held a clear margin ahead of Tampereen Pyrintö’s Amanda Saari and Ounasvaara Ski Club’s Johanna Matintalo on the Ruka ski stadium. Joensuu controlled the race day from the qualification round all the way to the finish line of the final.

Overall, Joensuu is satisfied with her early-season skiing.

“It’s been another 365 days of good training,” she told Yle.

“Now we’ve had two sprints, and the feeling at the end of both races has been good. That shows that my endurance is in an even better place again.”

Suomen Cup weekend 2/6, sprint 1.4km C – Women

1. Jasmi Joensuu VantHS 2:56.40
2. Amanda Saari TampPy +0.70
3. Johanna Matintalo OunasvHS +1.95
4. Krista Pärmäkoski IkaalUr +2.82
5. Jasmin Kähärä Vuokatti Ski Team +3.70
6. Hilla Niemelä IkaalUr +15.66

The story continues below.

The Ruka Suomen Cup continues Sunday with 20km freestyle races.

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

Text: STT Sports/Teemu Virtanen and published on Maastohiihto.com

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