TOUR DE SKI: BACK IN VAL DI FIEMME SHOW IN LAGO AND ON THE CERMIS

The grand finale of the Tour de Ski is preparing to inflame Val di Fiemme. The caravan of the World Cup, after the first four race days of race in Toblach, South Tyrol, took a rest day to move in the Trentino Valley. However, it is already time to go back in action for the last two decisive stages that will award the 20^th Tour de Ski champions.

Tomorrow, athletes will be back on track (qualifications at 12.15 pm – finals 2.45 pm) in the heart of the Dolomites with the sprint race in classic technique at the Cross-country Stadium of Lago di Tesero, a special and renovated venue that will also offer an Olympic preview ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, scheduled in February. On Sunday, instead, all eyes will be on the 10 km Mass Start in free technique, which will award the titles in the challenging and iconic Final Climb of the Alpe Cermis, starting from Lago di Tesero. The two legends, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Jessie Diggins, arrive in Val di Fiemme in high spirits and, above all, at the top of the overall rankings, buoyed by their respective successes in the last 20 km pursuit in Toblach. Both are approaching an event, in which Val di Fiemme has played a leading role since the creation of the Tour, with a significant lead over their competitors. The Norwegian is rapidly approaching his fifth Tour de Ski, a remarkable record that would surpass his compatriot Therese Johaug (2014, 2016, 2020 and 2025), Switzerland's Dario Cologna (2009, 2011, 2012 and 2018) and Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk (from 2010 to 2013), who are stuck on four victories. Klaebo, with 103 World Cup victories, leads the Tour standings with a 51" advantage over “Fitty the Cat” Mattis Stenshagen, who in turn leads a large group of athletes fighting for the podium, including Federico Pellegrino, who is 1 minute behind. The athlete from Valle d'Aosta, in his last season, will once again fight to achieve what would be a historic result for Italy, after Giorgio Di Centa's third place in 2008. In 13^th place is Elia Barp, born in 2002, who has performed well at the start of this season.

In the women's race, Jessie Diggins, in her final season, is determined to win her third Tour de Ski title and, at the moment, the conditions seem well set, especially after the withdrawal of Norway's Astrid Øyre Slind due to flu. The American leads the standings with a 1'36" advantage over Sweden's Moa Ilar and Austria's Teresa Stadlober. The best of the Italian team is the consistent Caterina Ganz, who, after her good results in Toblach, is in 13th place, 2'56" behind the leader.

The Tour de Ski event in Fiemme, organised by Nordic Ski Val di Fiemme, is therefore ready to offer two days that promise to be unmissable and set to recount the great moments in history. There will also be an event dedicated to the public, the Tour del Gusto, which will take place on Sunday along the Olimpia III slope of Alpe Cermis, offering the chance to taste local Trentino products and pass the time between the two races (men's at 11.30 a.m. and women's at 3.30 p.m.).

Pietro De Godenz, president of the Nordic Ski Val di Fiemme committee, is satisfied: "The drop in temperatures has allowed us to further improve the snow cover on the tracks. Considering the completion of the latest temporary works for the upcoming Olympics, there may be some inconvenience, for which we apologise, but I think it is understandable. I would like to thank Milano Cortina 2026 for their great cooperation in the use of the ready facilities. The Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme has been telling the story of international cross-country skiing for 20 years, and we are proud of that."

There will be live television coverage including Austria, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the USA, and 75 countries across Europe, Asia and Africa on Eurosport.

© Newspower