Moa Ilar on the new Tour format: “Will be much based on luck”

Moa Ilar on the new Tour format: “Will be much based on luck”

Photo: Terje Pedersen/NTB

Cross-country skiing

Two of six stages of the Tour de Ski have been completed. On Tuesday the racers rest, but on New Year’s Eve the tour continues — and with a novelty. The new stage is a 5-kilometre freestyle where the athletes are divided into four heats; their finishing times will be added into the overall standings. Moa Ilar, who sits fifth overall, looks ahead to the third stage with mixed feelings. She says the heat-based setup risks making results depend more on luck than on the usual format. The piece includes an audio clip and was published by Radiosporten on 30 December 2025.