The American Jessie Diggins is clearly leading the Tour de Ski after the fourth race. The 34-year-old celebrated the start of the new year with the 30th World Cup success of her career and is heading towards her third overall Tour victory. The Swede Moa Ilar and the Austrian Teresa Stadlober grabbed the podium places behind her. The best German in the pursuit race in Toblach was Pia Fink in 12th place.
Diggins had previously gained a lead of 50 seconds in the overall standings. Since second overall Astrid Öyre Slind (NOR) did not start, the Swede Moa Ilar was the first pursuer, one minute behind.
Lonely race from Diggins
But there could be no question of persecution. The American completed her laps confidently and continuously increased her lead. Behind them the field rearranged itself. With Teresa Stadlober, an Austrian woman made herself a top hunter.
In the DSV team, Pia Fink showed her qualities over the long distance. Coletta Rydzek, who appeared at the premiere of the controversial “Heat Mass Starts”-Formats had already said goodbye to their podium place in the overall ranking, but lost touch with the leading group. Helen Hoffmann and Katherine Sauerbrey made up places.
Rydzek falls far behind
However, none of the pursuers could even come close to preventing Diggins from winning. “I tried to do my best“, said Diggins, who is saying goodbye to the World Cup circus after the season. Second place in the final sprint went to Ilar with 1:35.2 minutes, who passed Stadlober (+1:35.5). Fink crossed the finish line in 12th place. Sauerbrey was 20th, Hoffmann 21st and Rydzek finished the race in 42nd place, just ahead of Sofie Krehl.
“I just wanted to run my race today and conserve my energy” said Rydzek. “It was very tiring.” Now she wants to recover and prepare for the sprint in Val di Fiemme. National coach Peter Schlickenrieder was overall satisfied with his team. Especially with Fink, who ran up from 18th to 12th place.
Move to Val de Fiemme
After a day of rest, there will be a sprint and the final mass start to Alpe Cermis at the end of the Tour de Ski on the Olympic trails in Val di Fiemme on Saturday and Sunday.
DSV team continues to shrink
The German tour team is now getting smaller: on New Year’s Eve, Olympic champion Katharina Hennig Dotzler dropped out with a slight injury. Anian Sossau-Daubermann and Theresa Fürstenberg did not compete on Thursday due to further competition planning. As a sprinter, Sossau-Daubermann’s focus is on the home World Cup in Oberhof and the Olympic Games. Fürstenberg, on the other hand, wants to win the overall ranking in the Continental Cup.