Cross Country Skiing
Russian coach at centre of Tour de Ski confusion — car and parking permit now under scrutiny
December 30, 2025 / Yle
The article describes controversy around Russian coach Yegor Sorin’s presence at the Tour de Ski. CAS overturned FIS’s blanket ban on Russian/Belarusian athletes, some Russians received neutral status and are competing, but Sorin — who coaches several Russians including Saveli Korosteljov and Aleksandr Bolshunov — has no neutral accreditation. Reports say he used a vehicle with a neutral-athlete parking permit; FIS later revoked the permit and is investigating.
Moa Ilar on the new Tour format: “Will be much based on luck”
December 30, 2025 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
Swedish skier Moa Ilar comments on a new Tour de Ski stage format introduced mid-tour: a 5 km freestyle where skiers are divided into four heats and times count toward the overall standings. Ilar, currently fifth overall after two of six stages, says she has mixed feelings and thinks the format will put more emphasis on luck.
Tough races for Eric Rosjö and Truls Gisselman — chasing Olympic spots: “Bitter”
December 30, 2025 / SVT Sport
At the Tour de Ski stage in Toblach the Swedish men had a difficult day in the 10 km classical race, jeopardising their push for the remaining Olympic quota places for Milano–Cortina 2026. Eric Rosjö and Truls Gisselman expressed disappointment after underperforming in a race that is crucial for Sweden’s final OS selections.
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Emil Iversen slams ‘Olympic expert’ Simen Hegstad Krüger after another setback: 'I don't bother thinking about it'
December 30, 2025 / Eurosport
Emil Iversen praised his own strong result in the Tour de Ski 10 km classical and took a pointed jab at fellow Norwegian Simen Hegstad Krüger, who had a disappointing race and whose Olympic prospects now look uncertain. Iversen said he won't dwell on his own Olympic chances until the Tour de Ski is over, while the Norwegian federation will decide remaining Milano–Cortina 2026 spots after the Tour.
Aino‑Kaisa Saarinen finds reason for Iivo Niskanen’s disappointment — Kerttu Niskanen survived a brutal moment
December 29, 2025 / Yle
Yle reports from the second day of the Tour de Skin: a 10 km classical interval race in Toblach produced several strong Finnish performances. Aino‑Kaisa Saarinen says Iivo Niskanen skied well but likely chose the wrong pair of skis; Kerttu Niskanen delivered a season‑best performance under pressure as Finland’s Olympic selection fight continues.
Fire alarm at Finnish skiing team’s hotel during Tour de Ski — sauna started smoking
December 29, 2025 / Yle
A fire alarm went off at the Finnish national cross-country skiing team's hotel (Toblacherhof) during Tour de Ski after smoke was detected coming from the sauna. Fire crews attended, nobody was reported hurt, and team members including Lauri Vuorinen had to skip the sauna on the tour's rest day.
Kerttu Niskanen fires back at critics as Krista Pärmäkoski blames slump on illness
December 29, 2025 / Yle
Finland’s Kerttu Niskanen placed fourth in the Tour de Ski women’s 10 km classic individual start in Toblach, a marked improvement after a difficult start to the season. She said she trusts the training she does outside the national team with coach Juho Mikkonen and sees clear progress. Krista Pärmäkoski faded to 38th, attributing her poor form to recent illness, while Johanna Matintalo (7th) and Jasmi Joensuu (13th) delivered solid results. Astrid Øyre Slind won ahead of Teresa Stadlober and Jessie Diggins, with Diggins leading the overall Tour.
Tour de Ski: Stadlober takes 2nd on stage 2 in Toblach
December 29, 2025 / krone.at
Austria’s Teresa Stadlober finished second in the women’s 10 km classic individual start in Toblach, missing her first World Cup victory by seven seconds to Norway’s Astrid Øyre Slind. Stadlober climbs to fourth overall in the Tour de Ski; Jessie Diggins remains overall leader after placing third on the stage. On the men’s side, Austrian sprinter Benjamin Moser surprised with 11th in the 10 km, while Mattis Stenshagen won the stage and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo extended his Tour lead.
Tour de Ski: Mattis Stenshagen beats Klæbo for his first World Cup victory
December 29, 2025 / NRK Sport
Norway’s Mattis Stenshagen won the men’s 10 km classic in Toblach, stage two of the Tour de Ski, earning his first World Cup win by 8.9 seconds over Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, with Emil Iversen third. Stenshagen credited friend Mikael Gunnulfsen with decisive advice that kept him in the sport, while the result intensifies Norway’s Olympic selection battle. Simen Hegstad Krüger and Andreas Fjorden Ree struggled, as coaches hold off on Olympic picks until after the Norwegian Championships.
Brisk run by Kerttu Niskanen, Krista Pärmäkoski struggles badly — Yle live coverage of Tour de Ski
December 29, 2025 / Yle
Tour de Ski’s 10 km classic interval-start races in Toblach saw Finland’s Kerttu Niskanen take 4th, with Johanna Matintalo 7th and Jasmi Joensuu 13th. Astrid Øyre Slind won ahead of Teresa Stadlober and Jessie Diggins, who moves into the overall Tour lead. Krista Pärmäkoski, recently ill with COVID-19, faded to 38th and believes the downturn is health-related; on the men’s side, Iivo Niskanen placed 4th in the 10 km classic earlier in the day, while a side note reports Finnish ski jumpers exiting in Oberstdorf’s Four Hills opener.
Annoyed Iivo Niskanen delivers blunt verdict — Perttu Hyvärinen grabs an Olympic berth but remains disappointed
December 29, 2025 / Yle
Tour de Ski continued in Toblach with the men's 10 km classic interval start, won by Norway’s Mattis Stenshagen ahead of Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Emil Iversen. Iivo Niskanen was the best Finn in 4th, calling the result “really bad” despite feeling better and targeting improvement in the upcoming 20 km classic pursuit. Perttu Hyvärinen placed 12th, likely strengthening his bid for a Milan–Cortina 2026 Olympic spot, while Niko Anttola was 14th; several other Finns finished in the points.
Cross-country: Ukrainian skier blasts Russians’ World Cup return as “terrorists”
December 29, 2025 / SVT Sport
Ukrainian skier Andriy Dotsenko condemned the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Cross-Country World Cup, calling them “terrorists” and saying he will not speak with them. His remarks came as Tour de Ski opened in Toblach, the first event in nearly four years where Russian and Ukrainian skiers competed at the same race, following a CAS ruling that allows Russians to compete as neutral athletes. Russians Saveliy Korostelev and Natalya/“Darja” Nepryayeva have been cleared to start; Korostelev avoided political comments, saying sport has been politicized.