OHANNES HØSFLOT KLÆBO - WHO ELSE? THE TOUR DE SKI DOMINATED BY NORWEGIANS

“The Star-Spangled Banner” echoes across Alpe Cermis in Val di Fiemme. The American anthem marked the conclusion of the 20^th Tour de Ski, celebrating, after Johannes Høsflot Klæbo’s victory in the men’s competition, the other star of the day, Jessie Diggins. On the iconic and traditional Final Climb, Diggins made a remarkable comeback to finish second and secure the overall Tour de Ski title in Val di Fiemme.

It is the third overall Tour de Ski triumph for the American champion, who refused to simply manage the comfortable lead she had built in the general ranking heading into the final day. Instead, Diggins lit up the final section of the Olimpia III slope, moving from fifth to second place in the last metres. “It’s truly incredible,” Diggins said. “It’s great to see how all the training and hard work have paid off. This Tour de Ski was anything but easy; it’s always difficult to stay focused day after day, but everything went the right way.”

Victory in the 10 km mass start freestyle race, starting from Lago di Tesero, went to an outstanding Karoline Simpson-Larsen. As the gradients steepened, the Norwegian imposed her rhythm and never relinquished the lead through to the finish. It marked her second career World Cup victory. “It was a really tough race, but my physical condition was good, and I’m truly happy,” said Simpson-Larsen.

Completing the podium was her compatriot Heidi Weng, who spent much of the race tucked in behind Simpson-Larsen but was overtaken by Diggins in the final metres. Nevertheless, it was an excellent result for the 1991-born Weng, who finished third in the overall Tour standings, behind the Austrian Teresa Stadlober. Stadlober placed fourth in the Final Climb and claimed the purple bib awarded to the best climber of the Tour. The silver bib for the best sprinter went to the Swedish Maja Dahlqvist.

Italy was represented in the Final Climb by Caterina Ganz and Martina Di Centa, who finished 22nd and 38th, respectively.

The 20^th edition of the Tour de Ski thus comes to a successful close, with Val di Fiemme once again confirming its status as a leading venue on the international cross-country skiing stage. Satisfaction was expressed by the Nordic Ski Val di Fiemme Organising Committee, led by President Pietro De Godenz: “The Tour de Ski is a success for the entire valley and the territory, thanks to the media, the volunteers, and all the local groups. The final thanks, perhaps the most important, go to those who invented this Tour twenty years ago, Jürg Capol and Vegard Ulvang.”

Val di Fiemme now turns its focus to hosting the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games for Nordic skiing: the gateway to the Dolomites is open.

FINAL RESULT TOUR DE SKI:

1 DIGGINS Jessie USA 2:11:26.1; 2 STADLOBER Teresa AUT +2:17.7; 3 WENG Heidi NOR +2:31.6

RESULT 10 Km FT Women – Final Climb

1 SIMPSON-LARSEN Karoline NOR 37.05.3; 2 DIGGINS Jessie USA +8.8; 3 WENG Heidi NOR +14.4; 4 STADLOBER Teresa AUT +17.5; 5 ANDERSSON Ebba SWE +21.9; 6 NEPRYAEVA Dariya AIN +1.04.3; 7 SANNES Nora NOR +1.22.0; 8 MACKIE Alison CAN +1.24.5; 9 DRIVENES Julie Bjervig NOR +1.28.8; 10 HOFFMANN Helen GER +1.37.8

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