Americans Shine in Ruka: Diggins Takes the Win, Career Best for McMullen
It was a day to remember for Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team as the Americans delivered standout performances in Ruka, Finland. Jessie Diggins showcased her tenacity with a commanding win in the women’s 20k skate. Zanden McMullen and Gus Schumacher powered to two top 10 results, with McMullen in seventh, a career-best, and Schumacher in eighth.
Men’s 20k: McMullen and Schumacher Rise to the Challenge
The men’s 20k skate saw McMullen and Schumacher assert themselves early and stick with the lead pack throughout the 12+ miles of racing. Both skiers remained in contention throughout the tactical and challenging four-lap race, unfolding on a fast, climbing-heavy 4k loop with ripping descents that saw athletes reach up to 30mph.
As the field entered the final 5k, the race turned tactical, with athletes deciding whether to push the pace or conserve energy by drafting. McMullen and Schumacher made their move, surging into 9th and 10th positions. By the final 3k, the duo sat within the lead pack, with McMullen in seventh and Schumacher just behind in eighth.
It was a career-best result for McMullen and Schumacher’s strong finish underscored his consistency and determination.
"Career best result? Music to my ears," said McMullen. "I feel it gives me so much confidence that I’m making progress and learning how to ski at the highest level. There is so much value to knowing how to race challenging courses with the fastest in the world that you can only learn by trial and error."
Ultimately, only one Austrian and the Norwegians stood ahead of the two Americans, a testament to the strength of the young U.S. men's squad. “This result is a critical dynamic for the U.S. team,” added Kikkan Randall during her commentary on skiandsnowboard.live. “It’s a long season, but performances like today show that the training and preparation are paying off. You carry this good feeling forward.”
Women’s 20k: Diggins Dominates, Laukli Impresses
The women’s race was a thriller, with Diggins executing a perfect strategy to claim her 24th career World Cup victory and 72nd podium. From the start, Diggins showed her intent, surging into the lead early and claiming a spot in the lead pack throughout the entirety of the race.
The final lap was all-out chaos, with Diggins, Norway’s Therese Johaug and Heidi Weng, and Sweden's Jonna Sundling battling for the lead. Sophia Laukli took turns with the lead, eventually leading the chase pack into the last lap. The steep climbs and blistering downhills pushed everyone to their limits, but Diggins found another gear in the last kilometer. Closing a 13-second gap to the leaders, she unleashed a final surge, navigating the course’s technical sections precisely and with the intention to make a move on the final climb.
“It was an epic battle,” said Diggins. “I was trying to be smart with the draft, but in the last kilometer, I saved it up, found a line, and played it well in the end. I also had amazing skis, so thank you to our wax techs," said Diggins following her victory.
Behind Diggins, Sophia Laukli impressed with a 10th-place finish, showing her early-season form. Laukli, who placed 14th in this event last year, remained in the top 10 for much of the race, leading the chase pack and feeding off the energy of her competitors. Behind Laukli was Rosie Brennan in 20th and Julia Kern rounding out the top 30 in 30th.
"What I’m most happy about is that I had the confidence to make moves and take the lead in the chase a couple of times, I never really did that last year so I’m excited to ski a bit more agressive this year," said Laukli. "I also felt like I have never skied as technically well as I did today so that’s a huge confidence boost as well."
A Momentum-Building Day
With McMullen and Schumacher in the top 10 and Diggins atop the podium, the day marked a powerful start to the season for the U.S. team. Fast skis, smart strategies and relentless grit were the themes of the day, setting the tone for what promises to be a thrilling World Cup season.
“Big results like today show that the training and preparation are paying off,” said Randall. “The U.S. team is in Europe for the long haul, and they’re proving they belong among the world’s best.”
From the speed and skill of the men’s race to Diggins’ commanding finish in the women’s, it was a day for the books in Ruka—and the Americans are just getting started.
