NEWS
TOUR DE SKI
The 19th Tour de Ski resumed with the first day of competition in a sun-kissed Val di Fiemme at the Cross-Country Stadium of Lago di Tesero. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (NOR) and Nadine Fähndrich (SUI) took the lead, with Italy as a protagonist, thanks to Federico Pellegrino's fourth position. Athletes had the chance to confront themselves with the new Olympic track of 1.2 km, prepared for the occasion of the Sprint in classic technique, the third-to-last race of the challenge.
Once again, the Norwegian champion Klæbo demonstrated his ‘embarrassing’ superiority in the sprint races, winning ahead of the compatriot Even Northug and Marcus Grate (SWE). With today’s victory at the Tour de Ski, the Norwegian is also the new World Cup Overall ranking leader, which adds up to the 3rd success in this Tour de Ski after the sprint in Toblach and the 15 km. The Scandinavian champion is firmly in the lead of the Tour before the last two stages (Skiathlon and Cermis Final Climb). Today Federico Pellegrino conquered the six-men final, finishing 4th: a very positive result that also gives confidence in view of the Olympic Games. Also in evidence was Simone Daprà, who made it through the quarters behind the winning Pellegrino.
Among women, the Swiss Fähndrich was able to cross the finish line ahead of everyone with a time of 2'57"6, just four hundredths ahead of Linn Svahn (SWE). Heidi Weng (NOR) came third.
In the World Cup rankings, there was a ‘changing of the guard’ in the men's overall, with Klæbo overtaking Amundsen, who retired from the stage race after Toblach.
Tomorrow will be repeated in Lago di Tesero with the ‘Skiathlon’ races on 10 km classic technique + 10 km free technique. All under the magnifying glass of the excellent Nordic Ski Val di Fiemme Organising Committee.
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