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We thought we knew who to watch today . . . then he dropped out. Prior to today’s race, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (NOR) withdrew from the 20 k Mass Start Freestyle, leaving the race open to nearly everybody and the red World Cup leader’s jersey up for grabs.
“This is the first of three consecutive three-day weekends,” said race commentator, Kikkan Randall. “And it is, of course, a World Championship year. So, a lot of athletes will be very calculated in how much energy they expend early in the season. If they wake up and they’re not feeling 100 percent, it’s better to call a race now than to dig yourself a hole later in the season.”
The men’s World Cup field is filled with eager racers, and today’s race displayed the potential of those other contenders to stand in the spotlight. Perhaps the skier with the most to gain today was Harald Oestberg Amundsen (NOR), who could take over the World Cup Leader’s jersey with a good performance in Ruka. Last year, Amundsen won the season-long overall championship, aided in that quest by Klaebo’s absences from significant events. As he has often proven, Amundsen is ready to enter any such open door. He proved as much again today with a solid win ahead of last year’s Ruka 20 k winner, Jan Thomas Jenssen (NOR), and Martin Loewstroem Nyenget (NOR).
Seven Americans had earned starting spots today in Ruka, but with the withdrawals of Zak Ketterson and Ben Ogden the American contingent was reduced to five. Following a sub-par performance in both the men’s and women’s Sprint races conducted yesterday, Team USA was set on redemption. They delivered in style behind the remarkable finishes of Zanden McMullen (7th) and Gus Schumcher (8th). Other American finishers included Hunter Wonders (45th), Michael Earnhardt (62nd), John Steel Hagenbuch (77th).
Canadian finishers included Olivier Leveille (24th), Tony Cyr (28th), Max Hollmann (33rd), and Sasha Masson (63rd).
“Being able to contend with the top finishers felt great,” said McMullen. “I always knew I have the capability to ski like this; I just struggled on the execution. My goal today was to conserve as much energy as possible (something I’ve struggled with in mass starts in the past), and to make every additional effort worthwhile. I felt like every time I went to make a move, I put myself in a better position for the rest of the race.”
Men’s 20 k Mass Start Freestyle
Wearing the red Distance Leader’s bib that he earned in his victory in the 10 k Classic on Friday, Iivo Niskanen (FIN) led the field of starters through Ruka’s stadium. Though he is a fine skier—and though he’s racing through the cheering throngs of his countrymen—Niskanen was not expected to contend in this freestyle race.
As the race made its way up the first series of climbs, it was Swedish teammates, Calle Halfvarsson and Jens Burman, who dictated the pace at the front of affairs. Miko Vermeulen (AUT) and William Poromaa (SWE) marked all early moves, seeming determined to be involved in the early action. At the end of the second lap, Niskanen came through to the front again to capture the available bonus points. That seemed to have been his goal for the day, and he was quickly swallowed up by the field.
Just past the halfway point, Martin Loewstroem Nyenget (NOR) began subtly to pull away. Friedrich Moch (GER) gave chase as the field strung out behind them.
Andreas Fjorden Ree (winner of the Men’s 10 k in Beitostolen two weeks ago) attacked up the main Sprint course hill, establishing a gap ahead of the field and collecting 15 bonus points. The subsequent regrouping of the field allowed Zanden McMullen to establish himself in the lead pack, followed across a gap by Gus Schumacher who led the chase group.
“(The pace) was about what I’d expected,” said Schumacher. “It can feel hard in Ruka, but there’s a lot of rest-sections that allow you to come back.
“I never felt stretched to my limits today,” McMullen told FasterSkier. “And I think with just a little more confidence and time, I can fight for the win.”
Through the final lap, the lead group was paced by Simen Hegstad Krueger (NOR), Mika Vermeulen (AUT), Moch, Jules Lapierre (FRA), and a group of contending Norwegians all jockeying for position. Seizing the opportunity that had been presented to him, Amundsen sprinted up the final hill to secure the win, followed by last year’s winner, Jan Thomas Jenssen (who vomited colorfully in the finish area after the race). Nyenget rounded out the all-Norwegian podium just ahead of Vermeulen in fourth.
Ten seconds behind the winner, McMullen and Schumacher crossed the finish line seventh and eighth in a notable turnaround from yesterday’s American problems in the classic Sprint.
“I felt like the last few kilometers of the race I skied a little reserved out of fear of screwing up a great performance,” said McMullen. “I wasn’t surprised to be up at the front, but I just didn’t quite know how to navigate that scenario. I found myself skiing in the back of the pack instead of trying to insert myself into a better position for the final sprint. But, lesson learned and I’m excited for a long season of more learning opportunities!”
“(Zanden) was in front of me; I was just trying to hang on to him ,” said Schumacher.” It’s fun to ski with him when he’s skiing that good.”
A different day produced a different winner. As it had done a year ago, the chase for the Crystal Globe will continue to develop and change, to twist and turn on the many different moments and circumstances that make up the World Cup season.
Men’s 20 k Mass Start Freestyle RESULTS
John Teaford
John Teaford—the Managing Editor of FasterSkier — has been the coach of Olympians, World Champions, and World Record Holders in six sports: Nordic skiing, speedskating, road cycling, track cycling, mountain biking, triathlon. In his long career as a writer/filmmaker, he spent many seasons as Director of Warren Miller’s annual feature film, and Producer of adventure documentary films for Discovery, ESPN, Disney, National Geographic, and NBC Sports.
