Cross Country Skiing
Toblach honours dominant Diggins after 20K triumph
January 01, 2026 / FIS
Jessie Diggins won the 20km Pursuit Classic in Toblach, claiming her eighth victory at that venue and the 28th individual World Cup win of her career. The race strengthened her grip on the Overall World Cup and Tour de Ski standings as the circuit moves on to Val di Fiemme and with the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics approaching.
Astrid Öyre Slind ill — withdraws from Tour de Ski
January 01, 2026 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
Norwegian veteran Astrid Öyre Slind has withdrawn from the Tour de Ski due to illness. Her absence reshuffles the standings: Moa Ilar moves up to second overall behind leader Jessie Diggins, with Maja Dahlqvist now third. The article notes the fourth stage of the Tour de Ski is a pursuit where Ilar starts 50 seconds behind Diggins.
Tour de Ski — Diggins extends overall lead with solo win
January 01, 2026 / sportschau.de
Jessie Diggins won the 15 km pursuit in Toblach with a solo performance, taking her 30th World Cup victory and extending her lead in the Tour de Ski overall standings. Moa Ilar finished second and Teresa Stadlober third; Pia Fink was the top German in 12th. The Tour continues in Val di Fiemme with a sprint and the Alpe Cermis mass start finale.
IS: Lauri Vuorinen abandoned Tour de Ski
December 31, 2025 / Yle
Ilta-Sanomat reports that Finnish skier Lauri Vuorinen withdrew from the Tour de Ski after three stages because he felt unwell and did not want to risk starting the 20 km classical pursuit. Vuorinen was 83rd in the 5 km mass start and 34th overall, while compatriot Ristomatti Hakola had already abandoned the Tour earlier.
New heat-based 5 km free Tour de Ski race divides opinions — Diggins and Schumacher win
December 31, 2025 / Yle
At the Tour de Ski organizers tested a new heat-based mass-start format: 5 km free technique races run in four heats where the winner is the athlete with the fastest time. Jessie Diggins won the women’s heat and Gus Schumacher the men’s. Several athletes praised the excitement and team tactics the format encouraged, while others — including Kerttu and Iivo Niskanen — missed the traditional, more gruelling Tour structure.
Despite the podium: “Hopefully the first and last time”
December 31, 2025 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
Swedish skiers Moa Ilar and Emma Ribom finished third and second respectively in the third stage of the Tour de Ski. Ilar criticized the new heat-based format — saying the result depends on which heat you are placed in — while Ribom enjoyed her heat and both were satisfied with their performances despite differing views of the format.
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Confusion around the star: 'You get a bit panicky'
December 31, 2025 / Eurosport Norway
Swedish star Frida Karlsson had a disastrous stage in the Tour de Ski on Wednesday, finishing far behind the leaders in a new four-heat 5 km free format. Jessie Diggins won the stage and extended her overall lead, while Karlsson described losing rhythm and panicking after being passed by several skiers.
Swedes shine — double podium in Tour de Ski stage in Toblach
December 31, 2025 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
Swedish skiers Emma Ribom and Moa Ilar took second and third place respectively in the third stage of the 2025–26 Tour de Ski in Toblach, a 5 km freestyle individual-time-heat format won by Jessie Diggins. Diggins extended her overall Tour lead; Moa Ilar moved up to third overall while Frida Karlsson had a disappointing 52nd place. A classic-style pursuit starts the next stage on New Year’s Day.
Mogren criticises new format: “Messy — added nothing extra”
December 31, 2025 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
Former elite skier and Radiosporten expert Torgny Mogren criticised a new format used in the third stage of the Tour de Ski in Toblach. The 5 km freestyle race was split into four heats with rankings based on individual times; Mogren called the solution confusing, unfair and felt it added no extra excitement.
Niilo Moilanen shines in new race format — “I give myself a clean sheet”
December 31, 2025 / Yle
Niilo Moilanen produced the best Finnish result on stage 3 of the Tour de Skin in Toblach, finishing 7th in a new 5 km heat mass-start format won by Gus Schumacher. Iivo Niskanen also featured (10th in his heat, 22nd overall); Moilanen said the race suited sprinters and that his body has been responding well.
Simen Hegstad Krüger criticises new Tour de Ski format: "Ridiculous"
December 31, 2025 / NRK
On the third stage of the Tour de Ski in Toblach, athletes reacted strongly to a newly tested 5 km four-heat format that produced a surprise winner and mixed national podiums. Several top skiers including Simen Hegstad Krüger and Erik Valnes called the format unfair and likened it to a show event, while others and some commentators said it produced excitement and broader competition.
Kerttu Niskanen unimpressed by new race format: “Wish we could have the old days back” — Yle followed Tour de Ski stage
December 31, 2025 / Yle
Yle reports from Day 3 of the Tour de Ski in Toblach where Jessie Diggins won the women’s 5 km freestyle heat-start race and Gus Schumacher won the men’s equivalent. Finnish veterans Kerttu Niskanen and Krista Pärmäkoski tried the new heat-format for the first time and voiced nostalgia for the old multi-stage Tour de Ski format. The article also summarizes ski jumping qualifiers in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and overall Tour standings after three stages.