Today, November 28, the traditional Nordic Opening takes place in Ruka, Finland, launching the new season of the Skiing World Cup. Important races are on the horizon leading up to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.
The 2025/26 season will feature 28 individual races, of which 12 will be sprints. This means sprint events will represent 39% of the World Cup calendar, a record high.
Approximately 180 athletes from around the globe are registered for the opening stage in Ruka, including seven from Ukraine:

• Women: Sofia Shkatula, Anastasia Nikon, Elizaveta Nopriyenko
• Men: Dmytro Dragun, Oleksandr Lisohor, Dmytro Romanchenco, Ruslan Denysenko

Weather conditions remain unpredictable. After a cold week, warmer temperatures are expected in the region: around 0°C in the morning before the races, which could complicate the track conditions due to wet snow or rain.
It is worth noting that Ukraine has already secured 5 Olympic spots based on last season's national rankings. Therefore, the upcoming races will be crucial in the fight for places at the XXV Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina 2026. The selection of athletes who will compete at the Games will be determined on January 18, 2026, when the FIS points qualification period concludes.
The Ukrainian Olympic Committee wishes all athletes a successful start and high results in the new season!
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