November 27, 2016 (Ruka, Finland) – Marit Bjoergen of Norway was in charge once again in the women’s 10km CL interval start on day two in Ruka. She may have missed all of last season’s World Cup with the birth of her first child but she clearly did not forget how to win. In just her second competition of this new FIS Cross-Country season she was back again on top of the World Cup podium.

“I was leading all the way today. I had very good laps. I got very good help from Victoria Carl on the flat sections. She was very strong there. It is a great feeling to be back and win again. I knew I can win when I have a good day. I train with some of the best skiers in the world so I knew how my shape was,” said Bjoergen.

Close behind her was Finland’s Krista Parmakoski at 4.6 second back and in third for the second day in a row was Heidi Weng of Norway at 12.7 seconds off the lead. The USA’s Jessie Diggins had a strong showing finishing 13th as the top North American.

“Great conditions today with new snow last night that was groomed into a harder track than yesterday. You still had to work for the kick on the steep climbs but the tracks held up and it was so cool to be using hard wax! I had great skis thanks to our hardworking staff and Salomon, and I had my best ever distance classic here in Ruka, so I was really happy with it! I really went for it and it felt good to remind myself what distance racing – and pushing myself that hard – feels like,” said Diggins.

Following in 17th was her teammate Sadie Bjornsen who had the best result in Saturday’s Sprint CL and was looking for a bigger hit in the 10km.

“Coming away from yesterday, I had some confidence in my fitness, and my ability to still compete with the World Cup despite a different preparation this year. I am a bit rusty on doing any sort of long hard efforts, so it seems that I didn’t pace the race today as well as I could and should have.

“I sort of forgot how hot you need to go straight from the beginning. It looks like I was already in 37th place at the first split, and then worked my way up for the remainder of the race. This first weekend will go in my brain as a weekend of “collecting myself” and getting ready. None of the results were quite what I hope and dream for this winter, but I have a long season ahead, and I still have tons of belief and confidence in what I am going to accomplish.

“I look forward to this coming week getting some more time on my skis, and  a little more adjusted to the jet leg and World Cup racing scene. Next weekend is 3 great races for me, so I can’t wait to build on this weekend, and get out there and start fighting again next weekend,” Bjornsen told Trax.

For Kikkan Randall it was another chance to find her legs as she gets reacquainted with the pace and demands at this level of racing. “Conditions were better than yesterday but still a little soft and I struggled again to really access my full capacity and power.

“Awesome day again for the girls, great to see Caitlin in the points. My skis were great, I just need to dial in technically to better use them. It was inspiring and motivating to see both Bjøergen and Saarinen ski so well. Yes we’ve been talking Mom and baby stuff between the four of us including Katja Visnar.”

Cendrine Browne, 21, from St-Jérôme, Que., led the way for the Canucks in 58th. Emily Nishikawa, of Whitehorse, finished 59th while Dahria Beatty, also of Whitehorse, was 74th.

Full results here.