Another big-name withdrawal ahead of the World Cup opener in Ruka: an Olympic favorite is forced to sit out this weekend’s races in Finland.

Simen Hegstad Krüger will miss the World Cup opener in Ruka next weekend, the Norwegian Ski Association announced on Tuesday afternoon.

“Simen Hegstad Krüger has unfortunately caught a cold and will therefore not travel to the World Cup opener in Ruka, Finland,” says national team doctor Ove Feragen from the cross-country department.

The 32-year-old from Lyn Ski is considered one of Norway’s strongest medal contenders for the 2026 Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina. At the season opener in Beitostølen last weekend, Hegstad Krüger finished fourth in the 10km freestyle and sixth in the 10km classic.

Regional team skier Edvard Sandvik from Team Elon Oslofjord has been called up to replace Hegstad Krüger. The 24-year-old from Kjelsås IL placed ninth in the classic race and 15th in the freestyle race at Beitostølen.

The Norwegian Ski Association has selected 28 athletes for the World Cup opener in Ruka. Here is Norway’s squad.

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

More star withdrawals

The Norwegian veteran is not the only one missing the season opener in Ruka. On Tuesday morning, Swedish star Linn Svahn announced that she will not start this weekend’s races in Finland.

Svahn, who was supposed to make her comeback at the Swedish season opener last weekend, has not competed since she crashed and was injured the day before the World Championships in February. Now she must postpone her comeback once again.

William Poromaa will also miss the World Cup opener. The Swedish 24-year-old, who took silver in the 50km at the World Championships in Trondheim this winter, is ill. According to national team head coach Anders Byström, the reason is that “his body doesn’t quite feel ready for the strain of a race weekend.”

Sweden will start with 21 athletes in Ruka, including the teenage sensation who says the Olympics are totally uninteresting to him.

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

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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