3:32 p.m
Drivenes ensures the pace
Julie Bjervig Drivenes takes the lead, with Nadine Fähndrich in tow. The Norwegian is really trying to keep up the pace. So far, however, this run has been significantly slower.
3:30 p.m
Last heat
Now the fourth run of this freestyle race is on the program. Teresa Stadlober is required here. From a German perspective, Theresa Fürstenberg is there. There are also the three confederates Nadine Fähndrich, Anja Weber and Lea Fischer.
15:26
Can Diggins still be beaten?
Jessie Diggins has the best prospects of winning the day; the American should maintain or even expand her overall lead on this tour.
15:23
Significantly faster heat
The Swedes Emma Ribom and Moa Ilar follow. Leonie Perry takes an impressive fourth place ahead of Canadian Alison Mackie. The first eight of this heat are faster than the best athletes of all previous races. The Swiss Giuliana Werro is ranked 55th overall – 1:15 minutes behind.
15:22
Diggins wins the race
At the end, Jessie Diggins accelerates hard, leaves everyone else standing and runs five and a half seconds ahead. This is a dominant race victory. And this is also the clear best time in the overall classification.
3:20 p.m
Quintet escapes
Three Swedes put Jessie Diggins to the test. The French Leonie Perry is also involved here. This quintet stands out a bit.
15:18
Mountain bonus
Now 3.1 kilometers have been covered. Jessie Diggins gets the five mountain points. Emma Ribom came second here too (three points) and Ebba Andersson, another Swede, came third this time.
3:16 p.m
Big field
Many runners keep up well despite the high pace. When things go uphill, Jessie Diggins sets the pace again.
3:15 p.m
Sprint bonus
In the intermediate sprint, Norwegian Eva Ingebrigtsen takes the lead (five points). Emma Ribom (three) and Moa Ilar (two) also take something with them.
15:12
Diggins pushes forward
The ladies get started quickly. Jessie Diggins doesn’t take long to ask and immediately takes the lead. Then the Swedes and Moa Ilar also see themselves as responsible. So the pace is high.
3:10 p.m
Third heat
Now the third run is coming up. In this, Jessie Diggins competes against the Swedes Moa Ilar, Emma Ribom and Ebba Andersson as well as the Finn Johanna Matintalo. They are joined by the Swiss Giuliana Werro. These athletes also set off from four starting corridors.
3:06 p.m
Tour interim results
There are already indications in the tour standings that Coletta Rydzek will lose her third place. Astrid Øyre Slind is ahead of her anyway. And Maja Dahlqvist has now passed by.
3:04 p.m
Krehl Ninth
All runners up to ninth-placed Sofie Krehl are faster than the best in the first heat. In the combined ranking of the two runs, Lisa Achleitner is currently in 37th place, 56 seconds behind.
3:02 p.m
Dahlqvist wins
In the end, top sprinter Maja Dahlqvist almost easily wins the race. The Swede lost to Julia Kern by just under a second. Astrid Øyre Slind comes third. Fourth place goes to Pia Fink.
3:00 p.m
Fink is at the front
Five women have left, Pia Fink is there. Julia Kern and Maja Dahlqvist are also involved. Plus the two Norwegians.
14:59
Slind continues to pick up the pace
Astrid Øyre Slind runs away. Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs follows at a distance. The field is long, gaps open up. This heat is now faster than the first.
14:57
Mountain points
Now 3.1 kilometers have been covered and the mountain points are awarded. There is a lot of pressure on the climb. Astrid Øyre Slind in particular deserves it and also gets the five points at the top. With Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs, another Norwegian bagged three points. For Pia Fink there are two.
14:56
There is a lack of speed
This run doesn’t really pick up speed as a result. The numerous distance runners in this heat are apparently not capable of this.
2:55 p.m
Bonus points
At kilometer 1.7, the French Julia Perrel scores five sprint points. Sofie Krehl scores three points. For Maja Dahlqvist there are two.
14:53
Krehl and Fink at the front
Sofie Krehl and Pia Fink are also way ahead. This run is almost as fast as Heat 1.
14:51
Slind just ahead
Astrid Øyre Slind takes command, but quickly realizes that it shouldn’t be her job to set the pace. The sprinter Maja Dahlqvist will take care of that.
14:51
Second heat
Now the women of the second group are ready. There are the Norwegians Astrid Øyre Slind and Heidi Weng, the Swede Maja Dahlqvist, the Finnish Kerttu Niskanen and the Germans Pia Fink and Sofie Krehl. Lisa Achleitner is involved for Austria.
2:45 p.m
Wait
Of course, this result ultimately influences the result of all heats. Only when everyone has run can we determine the winner of the day. As the first runners, we have to wait and see.
2:43 p.m
The Scandinavians are left behind.
Jasmi Joenssu comes in eighth, Frida Karlsson in thirteenth. The latter Swede lost almost 14 seconds. Coletta Rydzek ultimately finished sixteenth, almost 26 seconds behind.
2:42 p.m
A calf wins
In the end, Nadja Kälin came out on top, winning the first heat ahead of Helen Hoffmann and Katherine Sauerbrey. Marina Kälin makes the Swiss-German surprise result perfect. The quartet crosses the finish line within 1.2 seconds.
14:41
Surprising course
The women mentioned don’t let up. Two Germans and two Swiss determine the race.
2:39 p.m
Swiss Express
The two Swiss women pull through and dismantle the field. But Frida Karlsson doesn’t come along. On the other hand, Helen Hoffmann and Katherine Sauerbrey are pretty far ahead.
2:38 p.m
Mountain bonus
Mountain points are distributed at kilometer 3.1. There the Kälin sisters do respectably. Nadja is first and gets five points. For Marina there are two. Frida Karlsson is in between.
2:36 p.m
Rydzek lets up
Coletta Rydzek is now also having a hard time on difficult terrain. Gradually the German is passed to the back through the field. Johanna Hagström also gets into trouble.
2:35 p.m
First selection
At the back the pace is too high for the Japanese Chika Honda and the Ukrainian Anastasiia Nikon. Both runners had to give up long ago. This means that 18 athletes remain together.
2:33 p.m
Sprint bonus
Not only is the first split time taken after 1.7 kilometers, there are also sprint points here. Coletta Rydzek is the first to take five points here. There is also something payable for Johanna Hagström (three) and Frida Karlsson (two).
2:32 p.m
Swedes set the tone
We also have Katherine Sauerbrey and Helen Hoffmann as well as the Swiss Nadja and Marina Kälin. At the beginning, the Swedes take command and set the pace.
2:30 p.m
start
At this moment the starting signal sounds for the first heat. In addition to Coletta Rydzek, the Finnish Jasmi Joensuu and the Swedes Frida Karlsson, Johanna Hagström and Moa Lundgren are there.
2:25 p.m
favorites
At the top of the list is Jessie Diggins (Heat 3). The American leads the overall World Cup and is also ahead in the overall rankings on this tour. Without a doubt, the two-time Tour de Ski winner is also one of the contenders for the day’s victory. Her closest pursuer is Astrid Øyre Slind (Heat 2), 39 seconds behind. The form is right for the Norwegian. We also keep an eye on their compatriots Heidi Weng (Heat 2) and Karoline Simpson-Larsen (Heat 4). When looking for the stage winner, we also have to consider the Swedes Moa Ilar and Ebba Andersson (both Heat 3).
2:16 p.m
Federal Sextet
Of the six remaining Swiss women, the Kälin sisters Nadja and Marina start at 2:30 p.m. Giuliana Werro finds herself in the third heat (3:11 p.m.). The remaining three Swiss women will be in the last group. These are the eighth overall Nadine Fähndrich, Anja Weber and Lea Fischer.
2:07 p.m
Austrian duo
On the ÖSV side, Katharina Brudermann has withdrawn, which is why only two Austrians are still at the start. Lisa Achleitner wants to prove herself in the second heat. The last group (3:32 p.m. start time) includes Teresa Stadlober, who is currently in fourth place in the tour standings.
13:58
Hennig Dotzler gets out
The name Katharina Hennig Dotzler can also be found on the start list. But the team sprint Olympic champion will no longer compete today, feels slightly under the weather and – with the Olympic standard in her pocket – doesn’t want to take any risks. This leaves six DSV athletes. In the first heat it is the turn of Coletta Rydzek, third overall. Katherine Sauerbrey and Helen Hoffmann will run with her. The second group (2:50 p.m.) includes Pia Fink and Sofie Krehl. In the last heat there is the remaining German runner Theresa Fürstenberg.
13:49
Heat mode
Due to the large starting fields – for women there are still 82 athletes from 20 nations on the start list – this mass start race will be held in heats. The athletes were divided into four groups, which were sent out on the track at intervals of around 20 minutes. This is intended to avoid traffic jams and reduce the risk of falls. There are only around 20 cross-country skiers in each heat. On the route called “Eugenio” you have to complete a lap of exactly 4,926 meters. The first heat starts at 2:30 p.m.
13:39
Welcome
Welcome to the 20th Tour de Ski! The third stage of the first highlight of the season for cross-country skiers is in Toblach. The women’s five kilometer freestyle mass start race will start at 2:30 p.m.