Norwegian quadruple victory in the Tour de Ski: The Scandinavians won both the daily and the overall rankings in the men’s final mass start. The victories went to Simen Hegstad Krüger, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo and twice to Therese Johaug. But Friedrich Moch also showed a strong race and made it onto the podium. Victoria Carl made it into the overall top 10 for women.
Moch came third on Sunday (January 5th, 2025) in the 10-kilometer mass start from Val di Fiemme to the Alpe Cermis alpine station. The German only had to give way to the Norwegian Simen Hegstad Krüger and the Austrian Mika Vermeulen (+7.8 seconds). Moch crossed the finish line 10.7 seconds behind Krüger. For the 24-year-old, it was his third World Cup podium finish in an individual race.
Klaebo wins overall tour
The Norwegian Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo won the overall ranking. For the top favorite, 18th place on the final stage (+1:13.7 minutes) was enough to defend his big lead over the competition. Klaebo celebrated his fourth overall Tour de Ski victory, equaling a record set by the Swiss Dario Cologna.
In a total of 3:24:17.3 hours, Klaebo relegated Vermeulen (+ 1:23.1 minutes) and the Frenchman Hugo Lapalus (+ 1:43.1 minutes) to places. Sunday winner Krüger lost a lot of time due to a fall on Saturday and therefore lost all chances of the overall ranking. Now he was able to clearly distance himself from his compatriot Klaebo on the mountain. In the overall ranking, however, it was only enough for 22nd place.
Julia Büchler, Sportschau, January 5th, 2025 5:38 p.m
Moch improved to sixth place overall
Friedrich Moch stayed in the lead for a long time in the final stage. And once again he achieved a similar coup to last year when he came second overall in the last stage. On the final climb, Moch initially had to give up at around kilometer 8.5 and lost contact with the top 3. In the meantime, the German fell back to fifth place, but fought his way up to third place in the last 500 meters. This also meant he improved from 13th place to sixth place in the overall ranking.
Schlickenrieder: “The nickname ‘Frederick the Great’ lived up to its name”
“On the steep section I no longer believed that I would be able to do it. I had a hard time today, especially on the very steep sections where I was able to attack in previous years.”Moch analyzed his race on ZDF. “When it hit the flat section, I was able to mobilize a few grains and save it to the finish. And now I’m super happy that it worked out with the podium.” National coach Peter Schlickenrieder also cheered: “I think he lived up to his nickname ‘Friedrich the Great’ again today. He achieved the first podium place for the German team this season. Maybe that’s broken the spell. We’re starting the new year with real momentum.”
Brugger turns 46.
Janosch Brugger, a second German, also finished the race. The 27-year-old finished 46th, 3:05.8 minutes after Krüger. Because he received a time penalty of 3 minutes in the overall ranking after a disqualification on Saturday, he slipped to 44th place in the Tour standings (+ 12:20.1 minutes).
Women: Johaug wins safely
Therese Johaug from Norway celebrates her victory.
In the women’s race, overall leader Therese Johaug celebrated an unchallenged start-to-finish victory. The 36-year-old ran the 10 kilometers at the front from the start. The three-time Olympic champion launched the decisive attack for the day’s victory in the final climb after around 7.5 kilometers. The lead over the competition quickly grew to a few meters and 30 seconds. After 9.2 kilometers, Johaug was around 45 seconds ahead of the field of pursuers. At the finish she was able to celebrate long beforehand and won with the Norwegian flag in her hand.
Astrid Oeyre Slind won the battle for the other podium places (+ 25.5 seconds) ahead of Heidi Weng (+ 28.0 seconds). Nora Sanness came fourth (+31.1 seconds). The first four places went to the Norwegians.
Fink eleventh on the day – Carl eighth overall
The best German on the way up to Alpe Cermis was Pia Finka in eleventh place (+1:32.2 minutes), just ahead of Victoria Carl in twelfth place (+1:34.0 minutes). Carl narrowly defended eighth place in the overall standings. With a gap of 7:02 minutes to Johaug, the 29-year-old saved just one second from ninth-placed Krista Parmakoski (+7:03 minutes). Fink finished 15th overall.
Germany’s Victoria Carl in action at the Tour de Ski.
Overall ranking: Johaug ahead of Slind and Diggins
Behind overall winner Johaug (3:46:59 hours), Astrid Oyre Slind (+ 47 seconds) and the American Jessie Diggins (+ 2:41 minutes) took the other podium places in the overall ranking.
Hoffmann and Gimmler also end their tour
From the German team, in addition to Fink and Carl, Helen Hoffmann finished the last stage in 22nd place (+3:13.6 minutes) and Laura Gimmler in 25th place (+3:45.1 minutes). In the overall ranking, Gimmler came 19th (+ 12:21 minutes), Hoffmann 25th (+ 15:32 minutes).