KUUSAMO, Finland (AP) β Finland’s latest cross-country star Iivo Niskanen won the first men’s distance race of the World Cup cross-country season on Sunday.
Niskanen finished in 35 minutes, 9.4 seconds in the 15-kilometer classic race on the Ruka track.
Defending World Cup champion, Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway, took second in 35:19.7.
Finnish veteran Sami Jauhojaervi was third in 35:21.9, one tenth of a second ahead of Norway’s Niklas Dyrhaug.
The 23-year-old Niskanen won the team sprint gold at the Sochi Olympics, pairing with the 33-year-old Jauhojaervi.
