NEWS
TOUR DE SKI
It is called ‘Rampa con i Campioni’, so let a Champion win it: the four-time Olympic gold medallist and winner of four editions of the Tour de Ski made the legendary ‘Rampa’ in Val di Fiemme his own, repeating his success in 2023, an Open race that anticipates the ascent of the World Cup cross-country skiers and celebrates cross-country skiing along one of the most iconic trails. In the women's event, victory went to Frenchwoman Emilie Bulle, with the parterre enriched by multiple Olympic and World Championship medallist Katerina Neumannova (CZE).
A sky-covered Alpe Cermis welcomed the participants of the ‘Rampa con i Campioni’ who offered an appetiser of the final Climb show. The star of the 2025 edition was Dario Cologna, who faced the initial sprints of the ‘Rampa’ in the company of Paolo Fanton and the already winner of the competition Toni Escher (GER), other than the super champion Petter Northug (NOR). Along the climb at an average gradient of 12%, the Team Futura Fanton rider himself, aware of his sprint limits, attempted to sprint up the climb, but the Swiss champion Cologna left him no chance. It was the four-time Tour de Ski winner who relaunched the action and pulled away from his rivals before the finish line. On the top step of the podium went Cologna (SUI) followed by Fanton (ITA) and Escher (GER). Wooden medal for a nevertheless satisfied Petter Northug (NOR), who was pleased with his performance on the Rampa. ‘It was really fun, even better than I expected. It was my first race in a long time, but I felt good. The Rampa is demanding, but it's fun to race here on this occasion,’ added winner Cologna. On the possibility of Klæbo equalling his record of victories in the Tour Overall, he sportively added: ’Johannes deserves these victories, it will be a pleasure to share the record with him and indeed... he might even win more Tours than me.”
Participating in the race were also Klæbo senior and junior, Haakon and Ane: the father and sister of the Norwegian champion, in Italy to accompany the son and brother in his Tour de Ski adventure, have raced at the Rampa con i Campioni launching themselves in an inner family challenge. The 54-year-old and the 21-year-old were competing against each other, and it was the ‘older generation’ that came out on top in Val di Fiemme: father Klæbo, 40th, reached the finish line before his young daughter, 9th among the women, but at the finish line they both expressed contentment and...tiredness. ‘This climb is terrible, but I am so proud of my result today! There were several amateurs ‘of a certain age’, this challenge is great because it involves everyone and I am so happy!’ added Klæbo senior, with the champion's younger sister reminding them: ‘wow, from now on I will have even more respect for athletes like my brother who do this climb practically every year! It is amazing what it feels like to climb this far! Now hopefully I can celebrate a bit with Johannes, he is a great inspiration to me. From the outside, you see the champion who always wins, but we know how much work there is behind it. He is strong physically, but also mentally. I am really proud of him,' recalled Ane emotionally.
Among women, the victory goes to the petite but explosive Emilie Bulle who, emotional, does not hide her enthusiasm at the finish line: ‘How nice! I'm really happy, it was great to run this race. The organisation is great and I had fun!’ Bulle (FRA) beat Sigrid Mutscheller (GER) and Laura Stichling (GER).
At the 10 km skating race at Alpe Cermis among amateurs, youngsters and former champions there were 38 Olympic and World Championship medals and 5 Tour de Ski trophies, as in the company of Dario Cologna and Petter Northug also Czech Katerina Neumannova (7th) completed her Rampa.
In a race where who arrives last is not defeated, but has simply enjoyed longer the show of the Rampa, tail-end of the 2025 edition was Fabio Gatto (ITA).
With the Rampa con i Campioni, the amateurs confirm that they are great sportsmen and competitive on one of the World Cup's toughest and most spectacular tracks.
And the best is yet to come: after the thrills of the Rampa con i Campioni, the Olimpia III slope at Cermis awaits the best cross-country skiers on the international scene in the final round of the Tour de Ski.
©Newspower.it
