The Tour de Ski started its 19th edition on Saturday (December 28, 2023) with the freestyle sprints in Toblach, Italy. Laura Gimmler made it to the semi-finals and became the best German. Victoria Carl and Friedrich Moch already failed to qualify.
The weakened German cross-country skiers were only partially convincing at the start of the Tour de Ski on Saturday (December 28, 2024). By reaching the semi-finals, Laura Gimmler achieved the best result from the perspective of the German Ski Association (DSV). The Oberstdorfer came tenth when the American Jessie Diggins won and equaled her best result of the season.
Diggins already underlined her role as favorite for overall victory in the Tour de Ski in the first race. After last winter’s success, the 33-year-old is aiming for her third victory in the prestigious stage race. In the final, Diggins caught Finn Jasmi Joensuu (+0.31 seconds), who celebrated her first World Cup podium, in the final meters. Nadine Fähndrich from Switzerland came third (+0.47).
Carl fails in the qualification
After the failures of Katharina Hennig and Coletta Rydzek, German women’s hopes this year once again rest on Victoria Carl. At the start, however, she had to admit defeat in the qualification in 33rd place. Carl’s strengths also lie more on the distance distances, where she is likely to have significantly better chances in the 15 km individual on Sunday (12.30 p.m. in the live ticker).
The team sprint Olympic champion was in the race for a long time in the pre-winter for the first top 3 placement for a German woman in Tour history, but in the end she finished unluckily in ninth place. In addition to her, Anna-Maria Dietze (41st), Pia Fink (43rd), Helen Hoffmann (49th), Lisa Lohmann (50th) and Katherine Sauerbrey (59th) were also eliminated in the prologue. “We expected something more. From the young athletes, but also from Victoria Carl“, said national coach Peter Schlickenrieder: “There is still room for improvement.“
Gimmler in strong form
In addition to Gimmler, only teammate Sofie Krehl made it to the quarter-finals. While Krehl missed the next lap despite a promising performance for a long time, Gimmler showed a strong race and ran at the front over the entire route. Although she still had to give way to the Norwegian Helene Marie Fossesholm, she was able to defend second place in the photo finish against the Swede Linn Svahn, who won the Sprint World Cup last season.
In the semi-finals, Gimmler once again started bravely and initially took the lead. However, the tactic fell on her feet, the competition passed halfway through the route and opened up a gap. Gimmler didn’t have the strength to attack decisively again. She crossed the finish line in fifth place, more than a second and a half behind, but was still able to celebrate a successful start to the tour.
Hennig and Rydzek miss out due to injury
Hennig and Rydzek had to cancel their start at the first highlight of the season due to health reasons. Hennig, the 2022 Olympic champion with Carl in Beijing, finished the stage race in fifth place in the 2022/23 season as the best German runner to date. The rejection is a “tough decision“, said the 28-year-old from Oberwiesenthal. But “the body is not doing well in terms of health“.
Rydzek also has to miss out on the first highlight of the season. She was “not quite fit“and will now join the German team”keep your fingers crossed“, explained the Oberstdorfer. The 27-year-old was considered a beacon of hope, especially for the sprint stages.
Moch runs behind at the start
From a German perspective, Friedrich Moch’s performance in particular was eagerly awaited among the men. The 24-year-old sensationally finished second in the overall standings last year. In view of the overwhelming dominance of the Norwegians this winter, Moch stacked up low in advance. “It’s going to be pretty tough“, the Allgäu native was sure. He was right.
The pace was already extremely high in qualifying. Too high for Moch, who, like Carl, feels much more comfortable on long distances. He finished 17 seconds behind in 78th place and clearly missed the top 30. Anian Sossau (39th), Janosch Brugger (52nd), Florian Notz (97th) and Albert Kuchler (99th) also failed early.
Only Stölben and Kastner in the quarterfinals
Things went better for Jan Stölben and Marius Kastner, who made it to the quarterfinals. Both kept up well there, but in the end they were missing the last bit of energy for the semi-finals. Stölben finished his run in fifth place, 1.31 seconds behind, while Kastner ran out of strength after an overtaking maneuver before the finish line in fourth place (+0.76 seconds).
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo secured the first stage success in a confident manner. Norway’s cross-country skiing star dominated the race from the start on the way to his 88th World Cup victory, relegating France’s Lucas Chanavat (+0.42) and Janik Riebli from Switzerland (+0.49) to second place. Klaebo has already won the Tour de Ski three times. Last year, a Norwegian, Harald Östberg Amundsen, also triumphed. The 26-year-old leader in the overall World Cup was already eliminated in the quarter-finals at the start.
Tour de Ski more compact than ever
This year the Tour de Ski will take place exclusively in Italy. The individual, interval and pursuit races are still scheduled in Toblach until January 1st. After two days of breaks and travel, the final weekend follows in Val di Fiemme with the classic style sprints and the skiathlon races. The finale is traditionally the mass starts with the infamous final climb on the “Olimpia III” downhill route up to Alpe Cermis.