Fourth place at the end of the year and at the start of the year: Victoria Carl confirmed her strong form on Wednesday (01/01/2025) at the Tour de Ski in a lonely pursuit race in Toblach. At the front, the Norwegians fought the race among themselves.
After 15 kilometers using the classic technique, Carl crossed the finish line 1:36.6 minutes behind. Victory went to Astrid Oeyre Slind, who celebrated her second stage success in a row. Her compatriot Therese Johaug landed just behind her (+0.2 seconds). Kerttu Niskanen from Finland came third (+57.4 seconds).
Pia Fink also showed her class again after the previous day’s individual and finished in 15th place (+2:54.8 mins). Helen Hoffmann was 23rd (+3:50.8 min.), Laura Gimmler finished the race in 26th position (+4:46.7 min.) and Lisa Sauerbrey in 41st (+7:02.7 min.). Lisa Lohmann and Anna Maria Dietze were no longer at the start.
In the end, Carl lacks a bit of strength
“I’m super satisfied”was Carl’s conclusion immediately after the race. “I was able to hold off the group at the back, even though I ran everything alone.” She tried with all her might to close the gap to Niskanen, but in the end she couldn’t hold back any longer. At the last stop in Val di Fiemme she was still looking at a possible first podium place in the skiathlon this winter. “Never say never. But if I save it for Trondheim, it’s great too”she explains with a view to the upcoming World Championships.
Niskanen and Carl are walking in no man’s land
In the race, the two Norwegians Slind and Johaug, who started almost at the same time, were able to take turns in the lead, while behind them Niskanen and Carl were each on their own. Accordingly, the backlog grew minimally but continuously. After the first of three laps, Carl was still in fourth place, 42.2 seconds behind and was unable to catch up with the Finn.
Nothing changed in the further course of the race. At the front, the Norwegian duo ran towards victory. Three quarters of a minute later Niskanen followed, a little more than 20 seconds behind Carl, who in turn had a half-minute lead over her pursuers. Apart from the distances, nothing should change until the finish.
Diggins loses overall lead
In the overall lead, the American Jessica Diggins had to give up her leadership jersey to Slind, who is now at the top of the table with a lead of six seconds over Johaug. Niskanen is now third and Diggins is only fourth after finishing sixth in the pursuit. Carl moved up from tenth to seventh place. She is 3:01 minutes behind Slind.