Kerttu Niskanen unimpressed by new race format: “Wish we could have the old days back” — Yle followed Tour de Ski stage

Kerttu Niskanen said she missed the old Tour de Ski format.

On the third day of the Tour de Skin the races were 5-kilometre heat-start competitions in freestyle. Yle followed the competitions in this article.

• Anu Karttunen

31 Dec 2025 • Updated 1 Jan 20:31

Tour de Ski, Toblach (ITA)

Wednesday 31.12. 12:30 Men, 5 km (F) heat-start 15:30 Women, 5 km (F) heat-start

Yle does not have TV rights to the Toblach races; Viaplay Group holds them.

• Niilo Moilanen was seventh in the men’s 5 km (F) heat-start and Iivo Niskanen 22nd. The United States’ Gus Schumacher won. • Johanna Matintalo was 13th in the women’s 5 km (F) heat-start and Kerttu Niskanen 16th. The race was won by Tour leader Jessie Diggins of the United States. • On the women’s Two Nights ski jumping tour the competition was in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Minja Korhonen finished 21st; victory went to Slovenia’s Nika Prevc. • The Four Hills/German New Year sequence continued with the Garmisch-Partenkirchen qualifier. From Finland Eetu Nousiainen, Antti Aalto and Niko Kytösaho advanced to tomorrow’s competition; Vilho Palosaari did not. The New Year’s Day broadcast begins on TV2 and Yle Areena at 14:55.

Domen Prevc top again

Domen Prevc flew 139.5 metres and – as in Oberstdorf – topped the qualifier in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Austria’s Jan Hörl (138 m) was second and Austria’s Stephan Embacher (145.5 m) third.

Niko Kytösaho jumped 127 m and placed 36th in qualifying. Antti Aalto was 38th (127.5 m). Eetu Nousiainen qualified for tomorrow’s competition with a 120 m jump. Vilho Palosaari failed to advance; his jump measured 122 m.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany Men, HS142 / Qualifying

1. Domen Prevc SLO 150.6 Q
2. Jan Hörl AUT 146.2 Q
3. Stephan Embacher AUT 143.2 Q
4. Anže Lanišek SLO 143.0 Q
5. Philipp Raimund GER 141.8 Q
6. Ren Nikaidō JPN 140.3 Q
7. Manuel Fettner AUT 139.9 Q
8. Felix Hoffmann GER 139.7 Q
9. Kamil Stoch POL 136.1 Q

10. Timi Zajc SLO 136.1 Q

11. Niko Kytösaho FIN 113.7 Q 38. Antti Aalto FIN 112.3 Q 46. Eetu Nousiainen FIN 104.9 Q 56. Vilho Palosaari FIN 97.9

Tour de Skin overall standings (after 31.12, stage 3/6)

MEN 1. Johannes H. Klæbo NOR 33:30 2. Lars Heggen NOR +0:45 3. Harald Østberg Amundsen NOR +0:57 4. Benjamin Moser AUT +0:59 5. Mattis Stenshagen NOR +1:01

1. Iivo Niskanen FIN +1:31 16. Perttu Hyvärinen FIN +1:53 21. Niko Anttola FIN +2:03 28. Niilo Moilanen FIN +2:16 34. Lauri Vuorinen FIN +2:24 34. Petteri Koivisto FIN +2:24 37. Joni Mäki FIN +2:27

WOMEN 1. Jessie Diggins USA 27:45 2. Astrid Øyre Slind NOR +0:50 3. Moa Ilar SWE +1:00 4. Maja Dahlqvist SWE +1:11 5. Teresa Stadlober AUT +1:14

1. Kerttu Niskanen FIN +1:37 9. Jasmi Joensuu FIN +1:38 10. Johanna Matintalo FIN +1:42 29. Vilma Ryytty FIN +2:34 32. Vilma Nissinen FIN +2:40 35. Jasmin Kähärä FIN +2:49 38. Krista Pärmäkoski FIN +3:00

Pärmäkoski and Niskanen wish for old days back — “The modern world has only gone in the wrong direction”

Kerttu Niskanen did not warm to the new race format.

Both Niskanen and Krista Pärmäkoski have long careers behind them, but they still gathered new experiences today: both raced a heat-start event for the first time.

“Very interesting competition. I’d watched the men’s heats and thought the women would have fast races too,” Pärmäkoski (19th) said. “With my start position fairly far back I decided not to rush early. Drafting was a big advantage, so I had energy left at the end.”

Niskanen was the second-best Finn in 16th, but she didn’t really warm to the new format.

“Krista and I talked while waiting for the warm-up start — it’s like the modern world has only gone in a worse direction. We said, ‘if only we could have the old days back,’ ” Niskanen laughed, adding she missed the traditional Tour de Ski with up to nine races.

“Tour de Ski used to be a very tough fight and a hard block of racing. The Tour itself has declined, but I guess this is the modern age.”

Niskanen’s own race did not go as planned; she intended to ski easy on flat sections early.

“But everyone was in such a hurry that I slipped far back. It wasn’t easy or pleasant skiing. Very stressful.”

Kimmo Porttila interviewed.

Johanna Matintalo: goal was to lose as little as possible

Johanna Matintalo delivered the best Finnish result among the women.

“Before the freestyle mass-start I thought I really only had things to lose,” Matintalo said. “The idea was to lose as little as possible, especially thinking about tomorrow. The goal was to get into good groups for the 20 km classic pursuit.”

Matintalo, known as a strong classic skier, was satisfied with how the freestyle race set her up for tomorrow’s pursuit.

“I’m pleased I stayed with the leaders for quite a while and thereby secured good starting positions for the pursuit. Goals met and a solid performance for my level.”

Kimmo Porttila interviewed.

Diggins wins, Matintalo top Finn

Jessie Diggins claimed a convincing victory today, finishing 5.5 seconds ahead of Emma Ribom and 6.9 seconds ahead of Moa Ilar. Teresa Stadlober’s heat win only yielded 17th overall.

Johanna Matintalo was surprisingly the best Finnish woman in the race, finishing 13th. Kerttu Niskanen 16th, Krista Pärmäkoski 19th, Vilma Nissinen 28th, Jasmin Kähärä 33rd and Vilma Ryytty 36th. Jasmi Joensuu had a disappointing 39th place.

Toblach, Italy Women, 5 km (F) / Mass-start

1. Jessie Diggins USA 10:51.2
2. Emma Ribom SWE +5.5
3. Moa Ilar SWE +6.9
4. Léonie Perry FRA +7.5
5. Alison Mackie CAN +8.3
6. Eliza Rucka POL +8.6
7. Ebba Andersson SWE +9.0
8. Darja Nepryajeva +9.1
9. Maja Dahlqvist SWE +9.8

10. Julia Kern USA +10.7

11. Johanna Matintalo FIN +11.5 16. Kerttu Niskanen FIN +19.0 19. Krista Pärmäkoski FIN +24.0 28. Vilma Nissinen FIN +25.8 33. Jasmin Kähärä FIN +26.7 36. Vilma Ryytty FIN +27.6

Stadlober took a heat victory, Nissinen fourth

Karoline Simpson-Larsen’s pull created separation on the climb and Teresa Stadlober was able to pass the Norwegian on the stadium lap and hold the lead. Vilma Nissinen crossed fourth, Jasmin Kähärä fifth and Vilma Ryytty ninth.

Pace slowed, Ryytty still third

During the intermediate section the pace eased a little compared with the third heat. Norway’s Karoline Simpson-Larsen held the lead at 2.7 km and Vilma Ryytty was still third. Jasmin Kähärä sat 10th and Vilma Nissinen 13th.

Ryytty opened strongly

In the fourth and final heat the initial pace could not be sustained at the same level as the third. Norwegian Julie Bjørvig Drivenes led, then Andorra’s Gina Del Rio took the lead at 1.7 km. The gap from the third heat was a couple of seconds.

Ryytty was third, and Vilma Nissinen and Jasmin Kähärä remained with the lead group.

Diggins broke free, Matintalo 10th in heat

Five women had a small gap over the chasers on the downhill, but before the stadium the ten best were together. Jessie Diggins attacked on the final climb and managed to escape.

Diggins stopped the clock at 10:51.2 and took the win. Emma Ribom was second and Moa Ilar third. Johanna Matintalo crossed the line 10th in her heat and is 13th overall (11:02.7).