This weekend it is time for the second of the year’s most prestigious club relays, when the Jukola relays are run in southern Finland.
In total, more than 3000 teams are registered for the two relays, which start early Saturday afternoon and run until Sunday morning.
This year’s event takes place in the forests around Mikkeli, which is located approximately 200 kilometers northeast of Finland’s capital Helsinki and which last hosted the Jukola relays in 2009.
Here, relatively tough terrain awaits for Finnish conditions with steep hills, meaning that there are more than 400 meters of climb on the longest courses in the men’s relay.
Clear Stora Tuna-wins last year
Swedish side Stora Tuna OK are defending champions in both the men’s and women’s relay after clear victories last June in Lakia.
In the women’s relay, Tove Alexandersson took over the lead halfway on the last leg and raced to a winning margin of 4:11 minutes ahead of Kalevan Rasti (FIN) with Lahden Sunnnistajat (FIN) two minutes further behind in third place.
Rebecca Heinrup, Marie Olaussen and Magdalena Olsson made up the rest of the Stora Tuna team.
Stora Tuna OK’s women celebrate their win. Photo: Ilkka R Metsälä
In the men’s relay, Stora Tuna already took the lead midway through the second leg and held onto it for the rest of the relay.
This allowed Emil Svensk to take home the victory, just under 12 minutes ahead of OK Linné (SWE) and a further 7 minutes down to Ikaalisten Nouseva-Voima (FIN) in third place.
Olle Kallered, Joakim Svensk, Jesper Svensk, Ville Johansson, Henrik Johanneson and Viktor Svensk made up the rest of the winning Stora Tuna team.
Emil Svensk on his way to the win in the men’s 2024 Jukola relay for Stora Tuna OK. Photo: Jaakko Sorvisto
In this year’s 10mila relays, which were run in Sweden a little over a month ago, there were other teams at the top of the podium. Here IFK Göteborg (SWE) was the strongest in the women’s relay, while NTNUI (NOR) won the men’s relay.
Follow the relays on IOF TV
This year’s Jukola Relays can of course be followed via a high-quality TV production on IOF TV.
The ticket is 25 EUR and gives access to both English and Swedish commentary.
Katherine Bett and Jonas Merz are your guides on the English stream, while Kjell-Erik Kristiansen, Sara Eskilsson and Josefin Heikka make up the Swedish commentary team.
All times: EEST (UTC +3). Photo: Timo Erkkilä
Front Photo: Jaakko Sorvisto, Jukola 2024