Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo and Therese Johaug lead 2024/25 Tour de Ski after skiathlon victories
Norway's Klaebo dominated the distance event to cement his place at the top of the overall title standings heading into the final stage at Val di Fiemme, Italy. Johaug was in equally imperious form to win the women's race.
Cross-Country Skiing
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo flexed his muscles on the penultimate stage of the 2024/25 Tour de Ski with a dominant victory in the men's 20km Skiathlon Classic/Free in Val di Fiemme, Italy on Saturday (4 December).
The Norwegian cross-country skiing superstar slowed as he entered the stadium and shrugged his shoulders as he crossed the finish well clear of the second-placed Federico Pellegrino of Italy.
Klaebo delivered a masterclass in the combined event, which opened with a 10km in the classic discipline before switching to the freestyle over the second half.
The Norwegian and Germany’s Mika Vermeulen took turns at the front of a 20-man pack for most of the race. Vermeulen took charge within the final two kilometres before Klaebo produced a devastating kick in the last climb.
Klaebo pulled well clear of the rest of the field on the field crossing the line in 49 minutes and 29 seconds (49:29.0). Pellegrino followed in second place in 49:31.4 with Jan Thomas Jenssen taking third.
Klaebo now has a near unassailable 2:18 lead over compatriot Erik Valnes in second place on the overall TdS title standings, with one stage left in this year’s race.
The five-time Olympic champion Klaebo will fancy his chances of winning a fourth Tour de Ski in the 10km mass start freestyle on Sunday after winning four stages so far.
“It was a lot of fun, and it is good to be back winning some distance races again. I am super satisfied being first,” Klaebo told the FIS afterwards.
The women's skiathlon follows later on Saturday.
Four-time Olympic gold medallist Therese Johaug showed her class in distance skiing with an imperious victory in the women’s event crossing the finish 30 seconds ahead of her nearest rival.
Johaug led a five-women group over the 20km race before she made her move with just over five kilometres to go. The 36-year-old veteran built on that advantage and punched the air as she raced home in a time of 54:53.3.
Austria’s Teresa Stradlober won a three-way battle for second place with Astrid Oeyre Slind finishing third in a photo finish.
Johaug got her hands on the golden bib in the process and will go into the final stage on Sunday with a 22-seconds advantage over Slind in the title standings.
US star skier Jessie Diggins was in flying form over the last few kilometres to claim fifth place and move into third on the overall standings, nearly two minutes behind Johaug.
2024/25 Tour de Ski: Results from Stage 6 - 20km Skiathlon Classic/Free, Val di Fiemme (ITA), 4 January 2025
Men's
- Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo (NOR) 49:29.0
- Federico Pellegrino (ITA) +2.4
- Jan Thomas Jenssen (NOR) +3.9
- Haavard Moseby (NOR) +4.6
- Mika Vermeulen (AUT) +5.1
- Friedrich Moch (GER) +5.2
Women's
- Therese Johaug (NOR) 54:53.3
- Teresa Stradlober (AUT) +30.6
- Astrid Oeyre Slind (NOR) +30.6
- Ebba Andersson (SWE) +30.7
- Jessie Diggins (USA) +55.0
- Kerttu Niskanen (FIN) +2:06.2
Overall Tour de Ski 2024/25 standings can be found here.