The cross-country skiing World Cup season 2025/2026 starts this week in Ruka, Finland, and the Norwegian 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 Norwegian Ski Association confirmed the national team selection for Ruka. Norway will field 28 athletes (13 women and 15 men).

Two skiers have a free place for the Ruka World Cup – Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who won the 2024/2025 World Cup, and Mattis Stenshagen, as the winner of the 2024/2025 Scandinavian Cup, according to the press release, and added:

“In addition to elite skiers who distinguished themselves at Beitostølen, there are several athletes from the regional teams Team ELON and other teams who had good ski races this weekend and thus get an opportunity in the World Cup opening.”

Also Read: Swedish national team for the Ruka World Cup premiere 

Norwegian National Team for the Ruka World Cup 2025/2026

WOMEN

Women 10km Classic

• Julie Bjervig Drivenes
• Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs
• Anne Kjersti Kalvå
• Karoline Simpson-Larsen
• Heidi Weng
• Tiril Udnes Weng

Women Sprint Classic

• Hedda Bakkemo
• Mathilde Myhrvold
• Kristine Stavås Skistad
• Ane Appelkvist Stenseth
• Lotta Udnes Weng
• Tiril Udnes Weng

Women 20km Mass Start Freestyle

• Julie Bjervig Drivenes
• Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs
• Nora Sanness
• Karoline Simpson-Larsen
• Astrid Øyre Slind
• Heidi Weng

MEN

Men 10km Classic

• Harald Østberg Amundsen
• Johannes Høsflot Klæbo
• Simen Hegstad Krüger (replaced by Edvard Sandvik*)
• Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget
• Andreas Fjorden Ree
• Mattis Stenshagen
• Didrik Tønseth
• Erik Valnes

Men Sprint Classic

• Harald Østberg Amundsen
• Ansgar Evensen
• Johannes Høsflot Klæbo
• Even Northug
• Aron Åkre Rysstad
• Mattis Stenshagen
• Erik Valnes
• Oskar Opstad Vike

Men 20km Mass Start Freestyle

• Harald Østberg Amundsen
• Iver Tildheim Andersen
• Einar Hedegart
• Jan Thomas Jenssen
• Johannes Høsflot Klæbo
• Simen Hegstad Krüger (replaced by Edvard Sandvik*)
• Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget
• Mattis Stenshagen

*Read More: Norwegian superstar to miss the World Cup opener

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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