November 24, 2018 (Ruka, Finland) – Team USA’s Sadie Bjornsen was just outside of the top 10 finishing 11th in the women’s 1.4km CL Sprint  won by Russia’s Yulia Belorukova, who surprised the favourites at the opening round of the FIS XC Ski World Cup that got underway in Ruka, Finland on Sunday.

Sweden’s Maja Dahlqvist claimed second with her teammate Ida Ingemarsdotter in third as top qualifier Maiken Caspersen Falla (Nor) was shut out of the podium along with strong contenders Stina Nilsson (Swe) and Krista Pärmäkoski (Fin). Nisson was leading the final but over the final climb Belorukova took over as Fall we boxed out. In the last corner Nilsson tripped herself up and went down as her Russian rival raced to victory while Falla could not hold off Dahlqvist and Ingemarsdotter for the final podium spots.

Bjornsen qualified 5th and advanced to the semis placing second in a photo-finish with her teammate Sophie Caldwell in their quarterfinal. But her day ended when she placed 4th in her semi final.

“It sure was fun to fire the engine for Day One of World Cup racing this winter. I always think of the first races as a Christmas gift… a total mystery, but completely exciting! I was really stoked on a 5th-place qualifier, and felt like I had more to give for the heats to come. I am a huge fan of the final climb on this course, and I love attacking it, so I was just excited to take it on. My quarterfinal went well, and I was able to move on just barely in a photo finish with Sophie.

“The semi final got off to a good start, and then as I was approaching the final big climb, I was on a desperate search for an open lane to put my move on the big climb, but unfortunately burned a few too many flares chasing it, and didn’t have the power to advance. I think that was one of the more stacked semi-finals I have been part of, so I still have a lot of hope and belief for what is to come. I am excited to get that first sprint race of the season in – and looking forward to building on this start throughout the season. I feel good about the improvements I made this summer, and look forward to being able to lay them out in the races to come.

“Tomorrow is our first World Cup distance race of the season, with a 10k classic, so I look forward to putting my distance engine to the test. It was a great warm up last weekend, and fun to stand on the podium to get my confidence and excitement going,” said Bjornsen by email.

Caldwell, who ended up 16th on the day, was happy with her first big outing with a bib on as well.

“Today was a solid start for me in Ruka. I’ve always struggled with this course a little and had some good feelings going into today and was hoping for a little more, but I think it was a good start. I didn’t feel great in the qualifier, but I felt really good in my 1/4 final and had great skis in my 1/4 final.

“It was fun racing with Sadie and having a show down sprint to the finish. I’m looking forward to improving on my classic sprinting throughout the season and getting back to some skate sprinting starting next weekend! I’m planning on racing tomorrow and looking forward to getting in some good distance racing efforts during period one. I think racing is the best way to get better at distance and I also think it helps with my sprint fitness,” shared Caldwell.

Ida Sargent took home some points at her first World Cup of the season finishing 27th.

“Great to get the first race done for the season!  The qualifier was solid but nothing special but still good to be right in there and I felt like I had great energy which was nice.  In the quarterfinal I made a few mistakes including a lane choice on one of the downhills and then I also had taken a risk and gone for some skis that were really fast but definitely lean.

“I thought I would still be able to kick them but they turned out to be too lean when I was getting tired on the second hill.  The conditions here on the manmade loop are a mix of sugar and ice but I’m just happy to have some snow after first training in Rovaniemi, Finland where the track was very dirty and rocky.  I’m looking forward to a distance race tomorrow and another opportunity to race and go hard,” Sargent told Trax.

Jessie Diggins was just out of the running in 33rd. “It was good to start shaking out the cobwebs and get back into racing! I feel like I skied with much stronger and better technique than years past, so it was a good way to get back into the season,” said Diggins.

Results here.