Rumors began circulating after the ski star, who had been seen warming up at the stadium, never showed up at the start line for Sunday’s 20km mass start in Ruka.

Iivo Niskanen was registered for Sunday’s 20km, was at the stadium in the hours before the race, warmed up on the course, and had his skis ready on the start line — but when the gun went off, he was nowhere to be found.

A few minutes into the race, organizers announced that the Finnish star had withdrawn.

“In a bad mood”

Finland’s national team coach, Teemu Pasanen, says he only found out at the last moment.

“I was already in the forest when Iivo sent me a message that he wasn’t feeling his best and had decided not to start,” Pasanen told the Finnish newspaper Ilta Sanomat.

He emphasizes that it wasn’t due to illness.

“Iivo was training normally. He just wasn’t in the best of moods,” Pasanen says.

Also Read: Cross-Country World Cup 2025/2026: Standings after the Ruka premiere

Concerned

Pasanen confirms that Niskanen will race the World Cup round in Trondheim next weekend and hopes he will be in competition shape by then.

However, he also expresses concern about whether the Olympic champion can return to the form he showed before last winter’s World Championships.

Niskanen beat Klæbo in the 10km at the World Cup in Falun — the final test before the World Championships — but fell ill shortly afterward. The Finn missed the entire championship and now enters the Olympic season extremely eager to bounce back.

“I wonder if Niskanen will manage to get back to the shape he had last winter. I’m not sure, because I haven’t discussed it thoroughly with him yet.”

This spring, Niskanen parted ways with the national team and has trained entirely on his own ahead of the season. He finished fifth in Friday’s 10km classic.

Read More: Swedish star claims Ruka World Cup premiere 10km classic

Next Up – Trondheim World Cup

The next stop in the World Cup season 2025/2026 is Trondheim, Norway, taking place next weekend. Scheduled to take place from December 5 to 7, 2025, this stage will feature three days of competitions in Norway.

The event starts on Friday, December 5, with a sprint race in classic technique, followed by a 20km skiathlon (classic/freestyle) on Saturday, December 6, and a 10km interval start race in freestyle technique on Sunday, December 7.

See the complete program for the Trondheim World Cup below.

FACTS Trondheim World Cup Season 2025/2026

• When: Friday, December 5 to Sunday, December 7, 2025 
• Who: Elite national skiers – women and men
• Where: Trondheim, Norway
• What: FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Trondheim, Norway

PROGRAM

Friday, December 5: Sprint Classic (More details can be found HERE)

• 9:45 CET: Sprint Qualification Classic, Women
• 9:45 CET: Sprint Qualification Classic, Men
• 12:15 CET: Sprint Final Classic, Women
• 12:15 CET: Sprint Final Classic, Men

Saturday, December 6: 20km Skiathlon – Classic/Freestyle (More details can be found HERE)

• 11:10 CET: 20km Skiathlon Classic/Free, Men
• 13:00 CET: 20km Skiathlon Classic/Free, Women

Sunday, December 7: 10km Interval Start Freestyle (More details can be found HERE)

• 9:30 CET: 10km Interval Start Freestyle, Women
• 11:55 CET: 10km Interval Start Freestyle, Men

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

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