Jessie Diggins delivered an exciting victory in the women’s 20 kilometer (12.4 miles) mass start freestyle cross-country race at the opening weekend of the FIS Cross-Country World Cup. The three-time Olympic medalist edged Sweden’s Jonna Sundling by three-tenths of a second in an electrifying final sprint. Norway’s Heidi Weng completed the podium in third on Sunday, December 1 at Ruka, Finland.
Sunday’s win marked Diggins’ 24th career World Cup victory, a bounce-back performance after placing 7th in Friday’s 10km classic and 29th in Saturday’s sprint. She overcame a mid-race gap, catching veterans Therese Johaug and Weng before her decisive closing surge. “It was an epic battle,” Diggins said, emphasizing her strategy to conserve energy and make a move in the final kilometer. “I had amazing skis, so huge thanks to our wax techs.”
USA’s Sophia Laukli also impressed with a career-best 10th-place finish, reflecting growing confidence and technical precision. Rosie Brennan and Julia Kern placed 20th and 30th, respectively, adding to the U.S. team’s momentum.
The men’s 20 kilometer mass start freestyle race was dominated by Norway’s men. Last season’s men’s overall World Cup champion Harald Oestberg Amundsen took the victory in the men’s mass start with teammates Jan Thomas Jenssen, and Martin Loewstroem Nyenget rounding out the all-Norwegian podium at Ruka. Team USA’s Zanden McMullen and Gus Schumacher both achieved top-10 finishes, placing 7th and 8th, respectively, in a tactical race dominated by Norwegians. This marked a career-best for McMullen, who credited his success to persistence and strategic racing.
Both skiers remained with the lead pack through a demanding, hilly course featuring high-speed descents. McMullen expressed excitement about his progress, stating, “This result gives me so much confidence that I’m learning to compete at the highest level.” Kikkan Randall, a former Olympian and commentator, highlighted the significance of the performance: “The U.S. team is showing they belong among the world’s best. These results reflect their rigorous preparation.”
The opening weekend set a positive tone for the U.S. cross-country ski team as they head to Lillehammer, Norway. Diggins trails Sundling by just eight points in the overall standings, while McMullen and Schumacher aim to build on their success.
From Diggins’ dominant finish to the men’s rising stars, the American team is off to a strong start in what promises to be an exciting World Cup season.
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