Johaug took the lead on an early starting number and ran a solid race, but behind came several people who pushed her. The best of these was Frida Karlsson.
The Swedish girl led at all crossing points and was in a class of her own in the Finnish forests.
Karlsson has struggled with a strain injury in the build-up and had to take a break with a training stay in Tenerife, but Karlsson was back for the Swedish season start in Bruksvallarna last weekend and showed in Ruka that his form is impeccable.
Johaug is back on the international stage again after two seasons off the track, and on Friday it was 992 days since she ran her last race in the World Cup.
She became Kristin’s mother on 17 May 2023, and in August this year she made the final decision to make a comeback.
Johaug ran his first races already at the end of last season and won the three-mile during the NM part two by a clear margin.
Last weekend she was superior in the classic race during the national cross-country opening at Beitostølen, while she was beaten by 0.6 seconds by Heidi Weng in the freestyle race the following day.
Weng was fifth in Ruka with 1.03.9 minutes up to Karlsson.