Klaebo dominates again — wins 20 km pursuit in Toblach at Tour de Ski

The Tour de Ski continued in Toblach on New Year’s Day where Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo was unrivalled in the 20 km pursuit. Klæbo, who had started with a 45-second lead after the previous stage, extended that gap at times to over a minute and crossed the finish 51.1 seconds ahead of his teammate Mattis Stenshagen. The victory was Klæbo’s 103rd World Cup win and keeps him firmly in control of the Tour de Ski overall standings — putting him close to a historic fifth overall title (a record he shares with Dario Cologna).

In the battle for third place it was Sweden’s Edvin Anger who edged out Italy’s Federico Pellegrino by a ski tip. The German Ski Association (DSV) athletes were not in contention for podium places: Janosch Brugger was the top German finisher in 25th and described the race as “a really hard day”; Florian Notz moved up eleven places and is now 27th in the general classification. Friedrich Moch, once a Tour de Ski runner-up, finished 55th while his brother Jakob Elias was 44th.

Klæbo had been only 12th in the controversial new “Heat Mass Start” on New Year’s Eve, but recovered strongly in the pursuit. The Tour de Ski now moves on to the final stages in Val di Fiemme where a sprint and the concluding mass-start up the Alpe Cermis will decide the overall winner. Klæbo is the favourite to claim a fifth Tour de Ski title.

Results (top positions):

• 1. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (NOR) — winner, 103rd World Cup victory
• 1. Mattis Stenshagen (NOR)
• 1. Edvin Anger (SWE)
• 1. Federico Pellegrino (ITA)
• 1. Janosch Brugger (GER) — best DSV starter

The article includes comments from Brugger and remarks from German head coach Peter Schlickenrieder, who said the team is on a positive path but still has problem areas. The Tour de Ski will conclude with a sprint and the Alpe Cermis mass start in Val di Fiemme.