FIS Cross-Country World Cup - Falun, Sweden
The World Cup returned to Falun only days after the Olympic spotlight faded — and the racing in Sweden immediately reminded everyone that the season is far from over. On the iconic courses around Lugnet, sprint speed, experience, and pure endurance all collided in one of the most atmospheric stops of the winter.
In the sprint races, Linn Svahn once again proved that Falun belongs to her. Racing in front of a roaring home crowd, the Olympic Champion held off Kristine Skistad in a thrilling final. The men’s sprint delivered a familiar outcome as well — the fastest man in cross-country skiing remains Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, claiming his seventh Falun sprint victory. Yet the future was clearly visible behind him, with the young talent from Harestua Lars Heggen looking increasingly dangerous, joined by Austria’s Benjamin Moser, who secured the second World Cup podium of his career.
History was also written in Falun as Jessie Diggins started in her 357th World Cup race, becoming the cross-country skier with the most World Cup starts in the history of the sport.
And when the action moved to distance racing on the legendary Mörderbakken with the 20 km skiathlon, the drama only intensified. Klæbo continued his remarkable winning streak with another dominant performance, while Heidi Weng delivered one of the emotional moments of the weekend — finally winning in Falun after seven second places, her first World Cup victory since 2022 after a spectacular finishing battle.
