The fastest Pole, Dominik Bury, finished a distant 51st, 3 minutes, 36.9 seconds behind Norway’s Johannes Klaebo, who won the men’s three-stage season opener in Ruka, Finland.
Russia’s Alexander Bolshunov was second and another Norwegian, Emil Iversen, was third.
Meanwhile, the fastest Polish woman, Weronika Kaleta, placed 55th among 65 finishers, 5 minutes, 44.8 seconds behind the winner, Therese Johaug of Norway.
Russia’s Tatiana Sorina was second and Sweden’s Ebba Andersson was third.
In some brighter news for fans back home, Poland’s highest-ranked female cross-country skier, Monika Skinder, finished 16th in the sprint classic event on Friday, posting her career-best World Cup result.
Skinder, a 19-year-old native of the eastern Polish town of Tomaszów Lubelski, finished 47th in the 10km classic race on Saturday. She skipped Sunday’s pursuit race and did not complete the three-stage season opener.
Polish cross-country skier Monika Skinder, a 19-year-old native of the eastern town of Tomaszów Lubelski. Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Momot
The women’s Ruka Triple consisted of a 1.4km sprint classic event on Friday, a 10km interval-start classic race on Saturday, and Sunday’s 10km pursuit freestyle race.
Former Czech star skier Lukáš Bauer last year took over as head coach of the Polish men’s national cross-country skiing team.
Lukáš Bauer. Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Momot
Meanwhile, the women's team is now coached by Slovak Martin Bajčičák, a five-time winter Olympian who earlier this year replaced Aleksander Wierietielny, the man behind the successful career of Poland's cross-country ski legend Justyna Kowalczyk.
Martin Bajčičák (right), head coach of the Polish women’s national cross-country skiing team, with the team's previous coach, Aleksander Wierietielny (left). Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Momot
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Source: Eurosport, TVP Sport, PAP