13:24
Ilar prevails against Stadlober in the finish sprint
…the Swede benefits from her better strength in the last few meters and secures second place ahead of Stadlober. In the other places, almost 2 minutes behind Diggins, are the Finnish Jamsi Joenssu in fourth and the best Norwegian Heidi Weng in fifth. This is certainly a big disappointment for the Norwegians, who are used to success.
13:21
Diggins wins
Jessica Diggins achieves a start-to-finish victory that was never in danger and takes her 30th World Cup victory! Behind her, Moa Ilar, who had long looked like the weaker one in the chasing duo, pulled up with about a kilometer to go and moved ahead of Stadlober. But the Austrian stays tuned…
13:17
Stadlober can’t shake Ilar
Teresa Stadlober continues to try to create a gap between herself and Moa Ilar with 2 kilometers to go, but the Swede just can’t be shaken off.
13:16
Fink is fighting for a top 10 place
Pia Fink is still in the second chasing group, about 2:40 minutes behind. A place in the top 10 is still possible for them.
13:11
Diggins goes into the final round
4 kilometers before the finish line, the winner of today’s race has already been decided: Jessica Diggins continues to show no weakness and is now maintaining her lead over Stadlober and Ilar at around 1:40 minutes. The two pursuers should fight for the two open positions on the podium between themselves, because the pursuers around Niskanen are already almost 40 seconds behind.
1:07 p.m
Rydzek falls far behind
It turns out that this classic persecutor is not for Coletta Rydzek. Having started the race in sixth place, the sprint specialist is now more than 4 minutes behind and has moved up to 30th place.
13:02
Interim result after 12 kilometers
At the front everything remains the same: Diggins continues to extend her lead – the gap between the chasing duo of Stadlober and Ilar is now already 1:39 minutes. Another half minute behind is a group of six, led by Kerttu Niskanen. Her distance from Stadlober and Ilar also remains constant.
12:57
Pia Fink can no longer keep up either
A little more than half of the race has been completed – now Pia Fink, currently 10th in the race, has to leave the chasing group, in which Ebba Andersson, Johanna Matintalo and Kerttu Niskanen are setting the pace.
12:53
Fähndrich and Karlsson fall back
Maja Dahlqvist is about to be swallowed up by the chasing group. This has become a little smaller – Nadine Fähndrich can no longer keep up with the pace, as can – surprisingly – Frida Karlsson.
12:48
Stadlober passes Ilar
The second of five laps has been completed – Jessie Diggins is still circling lonely at the front. However, something has happened behind it. Teresa Stadlober was able to distance Maja Dahlqvist, joined Ilar Moa and moved into second place. However, the Swede can still keep up with the Austrian.
12:45
Pia Fink is currently the best German
A group of 10 has formed behind the best four runners, including Pia Fink and the Swiss Nadine Fähndrich. However, Carola Rydzek couldn’t keep up with the pace of this group.
12:38
Diggins turns up the heat
Actually, classical style is not her main discipline at all, but apparently inspired by the failure of her strongest rival, the American is pulling away at the top. She lost almost 20 seconds to Ilar Moa in the last 3 kilometers and increased her lead to 1:19 minutes. Stadlober and Dahlqvist also lose to Diggins.
12:33
First interim
Jessie Diggins and Moa Ilar start almost identically – after 1.1 kilometers the distance from the start is almost a tenth of a second. Behind them, Teresa Stadlober and Maja Dahlqvist have found a duo that will try to narrow the gap to Moa. Coletta Rydzek lost some ground as she had to let the Finnish trio of Kerttu Niskanen, Jasmi Joensuu and Johanna Matintalo, who started behind her, pass.
12:31
The race has started!
Jessica Diggins is on track – due to Slind’s withdrawal, now with a lead of one minute over the first pursuer, Moa Ilar.
12:29
Slind has withdrawn!
In the short term, the real favorite for this race, Astrid Øyre Slind, has to pass. The Norwegian, who won the classic-style pursuit race on New Year’s Day a year ago and was actually supposed to start the race in second place, has withdrawn due to illness. She obviously didn’t want to take any risks so close to the Olympic Games.
12:26
Nadine Fähndrich starts eleventh
The best Swiss woman in the overall ranking is Nadine Fähndrich, who starts 1:46 minutes behind.
12:14
Stadlober and Rydzek in waiting position
Surrounded by the Swedish trio, Teresa Stadlober, the best of the Austrian team, took to the track in fifth place, 1:14 minutes behind Diggins. For the best German, Coletta Rydzek, who clearly has her strengths in the sprint area, as seventh overall today it is more about not losing too much ground to her competitors.
12:02
Overall rating
American Jessie Diggins gained a somewhat reassuring lead of 50 seconds in the overall standings with her victory in the 5km mass start race yesterday. This is exactly the distance she is chasing today ahead of second overall, Astrid Øyre Slind. Another 10 seconds later, the Swede Moa Ilar starts the race, exactly one minute behind. With Maja Dahlqvist (+1:11) in fourth place and Emma Ribom (+1:1:21) in sixth place, two more Swedes set off on the hunt shortly afterwards.
11:37
Hello
Before the final stages of the Tour de Ski go to Valle di Fiemme, we welcome you one last time to a race in Dobbiaco. After the men’s pursuit race, the women’s pursuit race will also take place at 12:30 p.m. in the 20-kilometer cross-country ski run.