Finnish Skiers Compete with Mixed Results in the Tour de Ski
The journey of Finnish skiers in the traditional ten-kilometer event of the Tour de Ski was a blend of hopes and disappointments. Among them, Perttu Hyvärinen stood out, wrestling with his own expectations and the harsh realities of competition.
After the second stage of the event, Hyvärinen’s evident frustration spoke volumes. “It’s still not where it should be,” he admitted, his voice low and contemplative. A deep sigh escaped him—one that reflected not just the physical demands of the race, but the weight of aspirations unmet. Just two years prior, he had triumphed in a similar competition in Toblach. This time, however, he found himself outside the coveted top ten, finishing in twelfth place.
While Hyvärinen sought a position among the elite, it’s worth noting that his last commendable performance at the world championship level came in February 2024, where he secured a tenth-place finish in Canmore. “It was a better performance than before, but still not enough. I’m not satisfied,” he stated firmly.
Hyvärinen is fiercely competing for a spot on Finland’s seven-man Olympic skiing team, and although the sting of disappointment lingered, his performance may still bolster his standing in a fiercely competitive field. Notably, he outpaced Iivo Niskanen, a significant marker in a field where every second counts.
A Heavy Day for Finnish Sprinters
In the sprinter ranks, Joni Mäki struggled against both the course and his own expectations, finishing in 22nd place. “The second round felt quite dark. I blanked out during the long climb,” he reflected, juxtaposing his challenges against the promising sensations he had felt in earlier laps this season. The veteran ski coach acknowledged that the current season has been tougher than hoped, with his last four sprint outings only leading to quarter-final appearances.
Insights from Pirjo Muranen, a sprint world champion and skiing expert for Iltalehti, suggested Mäki might benefit from adopting a more aggressive approach in his races. “Perhaps it’s a matter of timing. When the qualifiers haven’t landed at the top, there’s a hesitance to unleash full power in the heats,” she observed.
A Mixed Bag of Performances
In a slightly better position, Lauri Vuorinen finished 23rd, just 0.7 seconds behind Mäki. Vuorinen described his performance as a step in the right direction, particularly after battling poor ski performance in the free sprint on Sunday that had left him outside the top 30. “No clear explanation was found, but it felt like the skis could have been better,” he noted. “Maybe it would have helped if we’d used the same conditions throughout the qualifiers.”
Despite the occasional setbacks, Vuorinen remains committed, recognizing that perseverance is key—even when faced with challenges like traffic on the course that may have set him back.
The Results
Here’s how the Finnish athletes fared in the men’s 10 km split-start event:
- Mattis Stenshagen, NOR 22:11.0
- Johannes Klæbo, NOR +8.9
- Emil Iversen, NOR +10.1
- Iivo Niskanen, FIN +24.3
- Edvin Anger, SWE +29.3
- Erik Valnes, NOR +30.7
- Harald Amundsen, NOR +34.4
- Elia Barp, ITA +39.2
- Saveli Korosteljov, RUS +39.6
- Federico Pellegrino, ITA +42.7
———–
- Perttu Hyvärinen, FIN +44.1
- Niko Anttola, FIN +47.2
- Joni Mäki, FIN +59.6
- Lauri Vuorinen, FIN +1:00.3
- Petteri Koivisto, FIN +1:15.8
- Niilo Moilanen, FIN +1:26.1
As the competition progresses, the Finnish team faces not just the clock, but the relentless pursuit of improvement—each athlete hoping their next race will bring them closer to their dreams.