Andorra show mixed results in Ruka World Cup as Esteve crashes, del Rio narrowly misses sprint heat

The Andorran cross‑country ski team closed a demanding opening World Cup weekend in Ruka, Finland, with mixed results for Irineu Esteve and Gina del Rio.

Esteve placed 41st in Friday’s 10 km individual classic (23:42.0), recovering ground after a difficult start but unable to challenge the leaders. Coaches and team staff pointed to slow early kilometres and difficult grip on the climbs as factors that cost time on the hard, icy track.

In her first World Cup classic sprint, Gina del Rio finished 36th, clocking 3:07.19 — just 1.63 seconds short of Emma Ribom’s 30th‑place time of 3:05.56 that secured the last qualifying spot. Sweden’s Johanna Hagström led qualifying in 2:55.26. Del Rio said she lacked a little rhythm in her first classic sprint but was encouraged by the performance; the team described the debut as very positive and noted how close she came to advancing.

Sunday’s 20 km mass‑start races were contested on hard, icy snow and proved testing. Del Rio was 52nd in 55:57.7, +5:32.8 to winner Jonna Sundling (50:24.9). She began strongly, skating with a group among the leading 30 and at one stage about 18 seconds off the front, but lost time as the race progressed and settled into 52nd by the finish.

Esteve’s race was disrupted by a high‑speed fall shortly after the 5 km mark. He had been well positioned early — around 34th at that point — but the crash dropped him more than thirty places and sapped the energy needed to rejoin the leaders. He crossed the line 63rd in 46:56.4, +2:13.9 to winner Harald Amundsen (44:42.5). Team director Xabier del Val described the day as “complicated,” citing the fall, hard snow and unstable skis as factors that made recovery difficult.

Coaches highlighted positives to build on: Del Rio’s near‑qualification in a first World Cup classic sprint and Esteve’s earlier mid‑race progression despite setbacks. Both athletes leave Ruka with clear areas to refine as the season continues.