Cross Country Skiing
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2025/12/29/image-82c191c8-f154-4d6b-9fbc-2d9380527587-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Expert hands out two more Olympic spots: “Some are under more pressure than others”
December 29, 2025 / Eurosport Norge
Retired skier and HBO Max pundit Helene Marie Fossesholm says she would add Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs and Karoline Simpson‑Larsen to Norway’s women’s cross‑country team for Milano‑Cortina 2026, leaving three Olympic places still open. She argues World Cup results should weigh more than Norwegian Championships, highlights Ingrid Bergene Aabrekk as the leading sprint candidate after Kristine Stavås Skistad, and notes Tour de Ski performances—particularly the classic sprint in the Olympic course in Val di Fiemme—will be decisive. Mathilde Myhrvold’s shoulder injury complicates her candidacy, as Norway has only eight total women’s starts to allocate across sprint and distance.
Ristomatti Hakola withdraws from the Tour de Ski after the first stage
December 29, 2025 / Yle
Finland’s Ristomatti Hakola ended his Tour de Ski after the opening sprint, citing illness in an Instagram post. He had minor sickness following the Davos World Cup and a disrupted training camp, and finished 85th in the Toblach sprint qualifier, 13.08 seconds behind winner Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. The Tour continues in Toblach with a 10 km classic individual start.
Should Kerttu Niskanen consider withdrawing from the Tour de Ski? Aino‑Kaisa Saarinen says Monday will be decisive
December 29, 2025 / Yle
Finland’s tough start to the season continued as no Finns reached the sprint finals at the Tour de Ski opener in Toblach: Jasmi Joensuu exited in the semifinals, while Joni Mäki and Niilo Moilanen were out in the heats. Expert Aino‑Kaisa Saarinen believes Iivo Niskanen’s hard sprint effort was a positive sign for Monday’s 10 km classic, but says Kerttu Niskanen’s continuation in the Tour could hinge on that race amid recent health issues. Kristine Stavås Skistad and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo won the sprints; Mathilde Myhrvold suffered a heavy crash and withdrew from the Tour with a shoulder injury.
Good news: Sweden gets one more men’s cross-country Olympic quota spot
December 29, 2025 / Sveriges Radio (Radiosporten)
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has awarded Sweden an additional men’s cross-country skiing quota place for the 2026 Winter Olympics. This brings Sweden to a full men’s squad of eight skiers, matching the already-secured eight for the women (men had previously been guaranteed seven). William Poromaa, Edvin Anger, Alvar Myhlback, and Anton Grahn are already selected, meaning three of four sprint berths are filled while distance spots remain more open.
Slind tames tricky Toblach track to win 10km Classic
December 29, 2025 / FIS - International Ski Federation
Astrid Oeyre Slind won the 10km Interval Start Classic in Toblach, mastering an icy, undulating course to claim her fourth World Cup victory. The race saw notable absences from Jonna Sundling and Therese Johaug; Teresa Stadlober and Jessie Diggins rounded out the podium challengers, while several favourites struggled with wax and tactics. The event is part of the Tour de Ski, which continues with a 5km Heat Mass Start Freestyle in Toblach.
Stenshagen beats Klaebo to Toblach 10K to show Norway power
December 29, 2025 / FIS
Mattis Stenshagen claimed his first FIS Cross‑Country World Cup victory by winning the 10km Interval Start Classic in Toblach, finishing ahead of countryman Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. The result — part of a strong spell for several young Norwegians — intensifies competition inside Norway for places at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics.
Klaebo beaten by Stenshagen in Tour de Ski stage 2; France’s Shely cracks top 15
December 29, 2025 / L'Équipe
Norway’s Mattis Stenshagen earned his first World Cup win in the 10 km classic individual start at Toblach, edging overall leader Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, with Emil Iversen third for a Norwegian sweep. France’s Théo Shely finished 13th after stepping up from the FESA Cup, while Hugo Lapalus and Jules Chappaz placed 16th and 20th respectively. In the women’s 10 km classic, Astrid Øyre Slind won ahead of Teresa Stadlober and Kerttu Niskanen, as Jessie Diggins took over the overall lead.
Cross-country: Alvar Myhlback and William Poromaa’s disappointment: “The worst there is”
December 29, 2025 / SVT Sport
Sweden’s Alvar Myhlback and William Poromaa struggled in the men’s 10 km classic at the Tour de Ski stop in Toblach. Myhlback finished 58th, nearly two minutes behind winner Mattis Stenshagen, while Poromaa placed 24th about one minute back; both expressed frustration but said quitting the Tour is not an option, and Poromaa admitted he feels Olympic pressure after a slow start to the season.
Cross-country in Toblach: German men face Olympic qualification doubts
December 29, 2025 / Sportschau (ARD)
Germany’s men struggled again on Stage 2 of the Tour de Ski in Toblach, with Florian Notz only 28th and Friedrich Moch down in 66th over 10 km classic, putting Olympic qualification in jeopardy for most of the team. Norway’s Mattis Stenshagen won the stage, while overall leader Johannes Høsflot Klæbo already holds a 53-second advantage after two stages. Janosch Brugger was 29th on the day and is the best German in the overall Tour standing at 29th; only Notz is currently assured of an Olympic berth.
Tour de Ski: Strong Rydzek stays on overall podium
December 29, 2025 / SPORT1
Germany’s Coletta Rydzek finished 15th in the women’s 10 km classic on stage two of the Tour de Ski, preserving third place in the overall standings after her sprint runner‑up on day one. Astrid Øyre Slind won the stage ahead of Teresa Stadlober and Jessie Diggins, with Diggins taking the overall lead. Olympic champion Katharina Hennig (listed as Hennig Dotzler) placed 10th and met the Olympic qualification standard; Katherine Sauerbrey was 16th and Pia Fink 21st.
After the Olympic allocation: “I don’t see eight men who can perform at that level”
December 29, 2025 / Sveriges Radio - Radiosporten
Sweden has been allocated eight men’s quota spots in cross‑country skiing for the 2026 Winter Olympics, up from the seven previously guaranteed. Despite the extra place, expert Torgny Mogren doubts there are eight Swedish men capable of delivering at Olympic level and questions whether more athletes should be added to the selection.
Tour de Ski Toblach: Hennig Dotzler hits Olympic standard, Rydzek impresses again
December 29, 2025 / Sportschau
Astrid Øyre Slind won the women’s 10 km classic in Toblach, edging Teresa Stadlober by seven seconds, with Jessie Diggins third. Germany’s Katharina Hennig Dotzler finished 10th to meet the German Olympic selection standard, while Coletta Rydzek followed up her sprint podium with a career‑best 15th over 10 km; head coach Peter Schlickenrieder praised a strong team performance with six Germans in the top 30.