Updated: Successful race weekends concluded in Lahti and Jura
Two days, two race venues, two nations, thousands of happy finishers! This weekend, La Transjurasienne in the French Jura Mountains and the Finlandia Hiihto in Lahti were on the Worldloppet program. While the French member race took place on a 50 km point-to-point course between Lamoura and Les Rousses, the Finnish OC had to invest tremendous effort into a 16-km-loop. At the end of the weekend, we can say, both races had a successful edition in 2026.
Close sprint final at La Transjurasienne
Under sunny skies in the Jura Mountains, La Transjurassienne 2026 once again lived up to its reputation as one of Europe’s most iconic long-distance cross-country ski races. Racing over 50 km between Lamoura and Les Rousses, France’s biggest cross-country skiing event delivered thrilling finishes, emotional victories and an atmosphere that continues to attract skiers from all over the world.
A total of 2,500 skiers were registered across the full weekend (7–8 February), with around 1,500 starters lining up for the flagship 50 km skating race on Sunday. Athletes from 35 nations took part, confirming La Transju’s international appeal and its important role within the Worldloppet circuit.
La Transjurasienne 2026 Results Skating Men
- Gaspard Rousset (FRA) 1:45:42
- Hugo Dejour (FRA) + 0.3
- Yan Belorgey (FRA) + 1.0
La Transjurasienne 2026 Results Skating Ladies
- Juliette Ducordeau (FRA) 1:59:09
- Camille Coupe (FRA) + 1:09
- Carla Wohler (SUI) + 2:55
Ice cold edition of Finlandia Hiihto
The second day of the Finlandia Ski Marathon offered sunny conditions with a temperature of –13°C. Victories in the Worldloppet and Ski Classics Challengers races went to Hilla Niemelä and Veeti Pyykkö in the free technique.
Sunday of the 53. Finlandia Ski Marathon began in slightly milder temperatures than Saturday. With the sun shining, an excellent race was once again skied among the elite group. In total, around 1,500 skiers started in the freestyle distances.
Finlandia Hiihto 2026 Results Skating Men
In the men’s race, 23-year-old Veeti Pyykkö claimed his first Finlandia victory with a time of 1:49:27.1. The race progressed almost to the final kilometers in a pack of just under ten skiers.
“The pace was quite steady, there weren’t any hard turns at the front. Everyone knew the positions would be solved at the end, and I tried to save everything for that,” said Pyykkö, while also enjoying the sunny and excellent skiing weather.
- Veeti Pyykkö (FIN)
- Markus Vuorela (FIN)
- Topias Kemppi (FIN)
Finlandia Hiihto 2026 Results Skating Ladies
In the women’s race, Hilla Niemelä won her first Finlandia Ski Marathon with a time of 1:50:21.6. For much of the race, the leading group consisted of Niemelä, runner-up Katariina Lonka, and third-place finisher Oona Kettunen skiing together with Eveliina Piippo. Niemelä praised the Sunday conditions at the Finlandia Ski Marathon: “The track was good and it was pleasant to ski, and the weather was just right. The skis were good and my body worked well otherwise, but in the final sprint my thighs started to cramp a bit,” Niemelä said after the race, adding that she hardly remembers anymore what it feels like to ski on fast snow.
- Hilla Niemelä (FIN)
- Katariina Lonka (FIN)
- Oona Kettunen (FIN)
