The Finnish cross-country skiing season officially got underway this Saturday as Vuokatti hosted the first Finnish Cup sprints of the winter.

The fast races on snow in Vuokatti offered a first look at the athletes’ early-season form. Hilla Niemelä and Ike Melnits took the wins in the women’s and men’s competitions, respectively.

Niemelä strong in the finish

Hilla Niemelä secured victory in the women’s sprint final with a powerful finish, edging out Amanda Saari and Tia Olkkonen.

Olkkonen showed impressive speed and form throughout the day but faded slightly in the closing meters to finish third. Olympic hopeful Krista Pärmäkoski also lined up and advanced to the final, where she placed sixth.

“I came into this race with a bit of a testing mindset since we just came back from altitude a week ago. The body worked quite well, but I hope there’s more to come,” Niemelä said to Yle after the race.

Women’s Sprint – Final Results

1. Hilla Niemelä – 2:16.82
2. Amanda Saari +0.26
3. Tia Olkkonen +0.48
4. Vilma Nissinen +1.51
5. Anni Alakoski +2.30
6. Krista Pärmäkoski +2.60

The story continues below.

Melnits with first Finnish Cup win

The men’s race featured a tight battle to the finish line. Ike Melnits surged past Olli Ahonen on the final stretch to claim his first-ever Finnish Cup victory. Valtteri Pennanen completed the podium in third, with just 0.61 seconds separating the top four athletes.

“The finish came together really well. Honestly, I didn’t expect this since you usually don’t have much confidence in the first race of the season. Everything went perfectly today. These early races provide a glimpse into what to expect. I want to challenge the national team guys for an Olympic spot, and if that doesn’t happen, then I’m aiming for a medal at the Junior World Championships,” Melnits told Yle.

Men’s Sprint – Final Results

1. Ike Melnits – 2:01.55
2. Olli Ahonen +0.17
3. Valtteri Pennanen +0.36
4. Juuso Haarala +0.61
5. Jesse Kähärä +1.75
6. Tino Stenman +2.37

The Finnish Cup continues in Vuokatti on Sunday with the season’s first relay events.

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