Jules Chappaz 2nd in Val di Fiemme classic sprint behind Johannes Klaebo; Jasmi Joensuu wins the women's race

Johannes Klæbo and Jasmi Joensuu won the classic sprints in Val di Fiemme on Saturday, the fifth stage of the Tour de Ski. Frenchman Jules Chappaz finished second behind the Norwegian.

The traditional Tour de Ski is nearing its end. On Saturday the fifth of six scheduled stages took place: the classic sprint in Val di Fiemme, Italy. As expected given his season dominance, World Cup leader Johannes Klæbo won the men's race in 3'21"28, after already posting the fastest times in his quarter-final (3'19"62) and semi-final (3'18"02).

The surprise came from Jules Chappaz. The Frenchman — 22nd in the World Cup standings before this race and the third-ranked Frenchman behind Hugo Lapalus and Mathis Desloges — produced a remarkable performance to take second place, a little over three seconds behind Klæbo. Born in Annecy, Chappaz built his race smartly: he entered the final straight in fifth but overtook all rivals in the closing metres to edge Sweden's Anton Grahn by just three hundredths of a second, on the piste that will host next month's Olympic sprint in Milan–Cortina.

Chappaz said: "I'm very happy with this result, doing it on the Olympic site is obviously good for confidence. It was an important day to get references on this track. I had ups and downs: a great qualification, then more pressure afterwards. In the quarter-final it was very good for 95% of it but in the final 300 metres I did a bit of nonsense. I stayed a lucky-loser, I was lucky. In the final I was a bit tired. I couldn't follow Klæbo; I let the guys go in front but I seized my chance on the last straight by starting my push a little earlier than them. I'm happy with the result, but I know it won't necessarily be the same day at the Olympics."

Behind the podium, the field included Norwegians Ansgar Evensen and Lars Heggen (from fourth place onward) and Germany's Jan Stölben. This is Chappaz's fourth World Cup podium after Toblach in 2023 and the Tallinn and Lahti sprints in 2025. Other French qualifiers failed to reach the semis: Lucas Chanavat (winner in Davos in December) finished 6th in his quarter, Théo Schely 3rd in his.

On the women's side Jasmi Joensuu won the final in 3'45"75. The Finn held off a late charge from Switzerland's Nadine Fähndrich to win by 0.44 seconds; Sweden's Johanna Häggström was third. American Jessie Diggins, the World Cup leader, was eliminated in the semi-finals. No French woman reached the quarter-final winners: Mélissa Gal and Clémence Didierlaurent were 3rd and 4th in their heats, Julie Pierrel 3rd in hers.

The Val di Fiemme sprint was the fifth stage of the Tour de Ski and also served as a venue preview ahead of the Milan–Cortina 2026 Olympic sprint which will take place on the same course next month.

Results highlights

• Men: 1) Johannes Klæbo (NOR), 2) Jules Chappaz (FRA), 3) Anton Grahn (SWE).
• Women: 1) Jasmi Joensuu (FIN), 2) Nadine Fähndrich (SUI), 3) Johanna Häggström (SWE).

Notable names mentioned: Hugo Lapalus, Mathis Desloges, Lucas Chanavat, Théo Schely.

Links: full sprint ranking and Tour de Ski standings are available on L'Équipe's site.

(Report: Fabrice Bosset; with R.D.)