SkiO World Cup: Olsson and Riissanen win Mass Start races

A convincing win for Magdalena Olsson, Sweden by 1.52 and a tight 3-second victory for the 19-year-old Finn Pyry Riissanen were the outcomes of today’s Mass Start races, the final day of the second round of the 2025 SkiO World Cup, held at Reit im Winkl in the German Alps.

The races consisted of three loops, with athletes passing through the arena twice during the race, which included a map exchange. With different forking, positions changed significantly at each passage and by the finish. The terrain was mainly open with some good ski tracks, but some downhills on the smaller tracks were icy and there were places with little snow.

In the women’s race, Norwegian Anna Ulvensøen led by a big margin – almost 2 minutes – at the first passage, but lost a lot of time early on the second loop, putting her well down the field. Nina Karna, Finland skied well to be second through the first arena passage, and maintained her form to finish third. But it was the two Swedish athletes Magdalena Olsson and Frida Sandberg, first and second in the Middle race yesterday, who dominated the later stages of today’s race.

Lavio Müller, Switzerland was the men’s leader at the first passage, with the winner then 16 seconds down in 4^th place. Riissanen was 15 seconds behind the leader Aapo Viippola at the second passage, and they raced hard on the final loop with Riissanen proving just the stronger at the end. Third was the promising 21-year-old Norwegian Teodor Mo Hjelseth, who took both passages in ninth place. He finished 1.34 down on the winning time. Jonatan Ståhl, Sweden came through the first passage in the lead, but had to retire out on the course on the second loop. World Cup leader Jørgen Baklid, winner in the first 5 World Cup races this season, could only manage eighth place today.

Full results, GPS-tracking and standings at IOF LIVE

The final round of this season’s World Cup takes place at the European Ski Orienteering Championships in Posio, Finland in the period 19-23 March.

Leading results, Mass Start

Women

1. Magdalena Olsson SWE 1:02:56
2. Frida Sandberg SWE 1:04:48
3. Nina Karna FIN 1:04:55
4. Daisy Kudre Schnyder EST 1:05:28
5. Ella Turesson SWE 1:06:22
6. Frida Haugskott NOR 1:06:23

Men

1. Pyry Riissanen FIN 1:11:07
2. Aapo Viippola FIN 1:11:10
3. Teodor Mo Hjelseth NOR 1:12:41
4. Lavio Müller SUI 1:12:46
5. Styrk Kamsvåg NOR 1:12:54
6. Gustav Nordstrӧm SWE 1:13:02