Klaebo wins anniversary edition of the Tour de Ski

Norway’s cross‑country superstar Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has won the Tour de Ski for the fifth time, making him the sole record holder. The day’s stage (the Final Climb) and the mountain classification, however, were won by fellow Norwegian Mattis Stenshagen. The German skiers did not play a major role in the final.

On the 3.5‑kilometre climb that ends the 20th Tour de Ski on the Alpe Cermis, Klæbo had chosen not to contest the stage after taking three stage wins earlier in the series. He nevertheless controlled the overall standings from a little behind: thanks to his cushion before the final stage he could afford that tactic.

The stage victory on Sunday (4 Jan 2026) and the mountain title went to Klæbo’s countryman Mattis Stenshagen, who outsprinted Frenchman Jules Lapierre in the final metres. Third on the day was another Norwegian, Emil Iversen. Klæbo himself crossed the line in twelfth, about a minute down, and preserved 30 seconds of his advantage to claim the overall victory.

Best German on the final day was Florian Notz in 18th. Janosch Brugger finished 33rd. The Moch brothers, Jakob Elias and Friedrich, were 42nd and 46th respectively. Jan Stölben, who had sensationally reached the final in the classic sprint the day before, was only 51st this time.

Klæbo had started the final stage with a lead of 1:23 over Lars Heggen and 1:29 over Stenshagen. On the first flat kilometres the 29‑year‑old set the pace at the front and led the field into the climb on the Alpe Cermis, where 420 metres of elevation had to be overcome. Stenshagen and Lapierre quickly broke away at the front and ultimately decided the stage between them.

With the overall win Klæbo adds to his previous Tour de Ski victories from 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2025, now one ahead of the Swiss Dario Cologna (2009, 2011, 2012 and 2018). Klæbo also secured the sprint classification. Second in the final overall standings was Stenshagen (+30.1 seconds) ahead of Harald Östberg Amundsen (+1:08.2).

German hopes and Moch’s crisis

The best German in the final overall classification was Florian Notz, who finished 26th overall with a deficit of 4:42 to the winner. Janosch Brugger was two places back (+5:04.7). Friedrich Moch, who had been sixth overall last year thanks to a strong final‑climb performance, disappointed this time and ended up 47th overall with more than seven and a half minutes back.

Moch’s crisis continues: the 25‑year‑old from Swabia has still not secured Olympic qualification. “He consciously decided to stay in competition mode. As of today we can say it seems to have been the wrong decision,” national coach Peter Schlickenrieder said. A final assessment is planned only after the Olympic Games.

“We are definitely gaining experience and that is our most important theme — that we make self‑responsible decisions and learn from mistakes. We consciously accept this culture of mistakes,” added the 2002 Olympic silver medallist.

Mini‑Tour ahead of the Games

With the Olympic Games in February in mind, the organisers had scheduled a “mini‑tour.” At roughly 56 kilometres across six race days, this was the shortest edition in the Tour de Ski’s 20‑year history.

Related links

• Results • Live ticker

(This report was published on sportschau.de on 04.01.2026)