Aussies compete in opening XC World Cup in Finland

The Cross Country FIS World Cup tour kicked off in Ruka, Finland, with eight Australians in action to start the season.
 
Standout performances came from Rosie Fordham and Phoebe Cridland in the 20km Mass Start Free event. Fordham matched her previous World Cup personal best in this distance, finishing 35th, while Cridland was close behind in 46th. Both skiers were in contention for a top-30 finish for much of the race.
 
The Australian squad now heads to Trondheim, Norway, for the next round of World Cup competition, featuring the Sprint Classic, 20km Skiathlon, and 10km Interval Free events.
 
Summary of Australian results in Ruka.
 
10km Interval Start Classic
Women
60th – Rosie Fordham
64th – Ellen Soehol Lie
68th – Maddie Hooker
79th – Tuva Bygrave
Men
75th – Seve de Campo
84th – Phillip Bellingham
96th – Bentley Walker-Broose
98th – Fedele de Campo
 
Sprint Classic
Women
59th – Ellen Soehol Lie
65th – Maddie Hooker
74th – Tuva Bygrave
Men
66th – Lars Young Vik
81st – Phillip Bellingham
88th – Fedele de Campo
 
20km Mass Start Free
Women
35th – Rosie Fordham
46th – Phoebe Cridland
58th – Ellen Soehol Lie
61st – Maddie Hooker
67th – Tuva Bygrave
Men
71st – Lars Young Vik
75th – Seve de Campo
87th – Phillip Bellingham
94th – Fedele de Campo

IMAGE
Rosie Fordham racing hard in Ruka, Finalnd
© Chris Hocking