KLAEBO: FROM THE FJORDS TO VAL DI FIEMME TOTAL DOMINANCE AT THE TOUR DE SKI

From the land of the fjords to the Dolomites, a solitary ride by the Norwegian legend. On the first race day of the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme, all eyes were once again on Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. In the newly renovated Cross-Country Stadium of Lago di Tesero, which in just over a month will host the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the Trondheim star made light work of the competition. Finland’s Jasmi Joensuu also impressed, honouring her bib number 1 from qualification with a clear-cut victory in the fifth stage of the 20^th Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme. A very positive day for Italy as well, with four athletes reaching the semifinals.

The “sprint king” was once again Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. The Norwegian’s victory was never in doubt, as he dominated from qualification through to the finish line. It marked his 104^th career World Cup victory, and with just one race remaining, he has taken a commanding step toward his fifth Tour de Ski title. “It was a good race. I feel I managed to learn a lot about the tricks of this course, and judging by how things went, it’s definitely a good sign. Tomorrow will be a tough race,” said Klæbo.

The real battle was for second place, which the Frenchman Jules Chappaz claimed in a photo finish over Sweden’s Anton Grahn, who celebrated the first World Cup podium of his career.

For the Italian Federico Pellegrino, the Tour podium is still within reach, despite being preceded in the provisional standings by the Norwegians Klæbo, Lars Heggen, Mattis Stenshagen, and Harald Østberg Amundsen. “The feelings today were good. Instead of tightening the inside line through the corner, I hoped the two athletes ahead of me would leave a free track, which obviously did not happen. I ended up in the wrong position, with a lot of air in my face, little speed, and I just dragged myself to the finish. It’s a pity, but tomorrow the goal is to give everything until the last metre. Then we’ll do the sums at the end,” Pellegrino commented.

In the women’s race, Jasmi Joensuu claimed her first-ever individual World Cup victory, confirming the top spot she earned in qualification and moving up to second place in the overall Tour standings. The crowd was thrilled by the head-to-head duel in the final metres, with the Finn edging out Switzerland’s Nadine Faehndrich, while Sweden’s Johanna Hagström secured third place without major trouble. FISI President Flavio Roda, conduced today’s award ceremony.

The best World Cup result of her career came for Italy’s Iris De Martin Pinter from Belluno, who reached the semifinals and fought all the way in a heat that also included Tour leader Jessie Diggins, who missed out on the final but is ever closer to claiming her third Tour de Ski title.

Tomorrow the curtain will fall on the Val di Fiemme event with the iconic Final Climb up Alpe Cermis (11:30 am men, 3:30 pm women), which will crown the winners of the 20^th Tour de Ski. The extremely demanding 10 km mass start in freestyle technique, beginning in Lago di Tesero, will take the athletes to the foot of Alpe Cermis for the final 3.5 km uphill on the Olimpia III slope, featuring an average gradient of 12% and ramps reaching up to 28% at the steepest points.

A race well known to Dario Cologna, four-time Tour de Ski winner: “They are great memories for me. Back then, the format was a pursuit, so a bit different, but the atmosphere is the same and always unique. I expect Klæbo to win tomorrow and overtake me in terms of Tour victories. He’s incredibly strong, and over his career, he could probably reach seven or eight titles.” The spectacle tomorrow promises to be unmissable. Spectators on site will also be able to enjoy local products through the “Tour del Gusto” along the slope. For those following from home, live television coverage is guaranteed for the most widely covered event on the calendar, reaching audiences worldwide.

Sprint CT - Men

1 KLAEBO Johannes Hoesflot NOR 3:21.28; 2 CHAPPAZ Jules FRA 3:24.39; 3 GRAHN Anton SWE 3:24.42; 4 EVENSEN Ansgar NOR 3:24.91; 5 HEGGEN Lars NOR 3:25.54; 6 STOELBEN Jan GER 3:32.51

Sprint CT - Women

1 JOENSUU Jasmi FIN 3:45.75; 2 FAEHNDRICH Nadine SUI 3:46.19; 3 HAGSTROEM Johanna SWE 3:47.69; 4 DAHLQVIST Maja SWE 3:50.78; 5 MATINTALO Johanna FIN 3:52.17; 6 WEBER Anja SUI 3:59.38

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