Cross-country skiing: Kristine Stavås Skistad wins Tour de Ski opener – Dahlqvist on the podium

Kristine Stavås Skistad began the Tour de Ski with a victory in the freestyle sprint in Toblach, taking the lead early in the final and dictating the pace. Sweden’s Maja Dahlqvist stayed close and was rewarded with third place, while Germany’s Coletta Rydzek produced a strong finishing sprint to take second.

“It was a tough final but I decided to go hard and the tactics worked well. It’s nice to lead the Tour de Ski and now it’s just about keeping it going,” said Stavås Skistad. Dahlqvist said she was satisfied with her form and that her body responded well, especially on the climbs.

Skistad qualified sixth, then managed the rounds efficiently by placing second in her quarterfinal and winning the first semifinal, which gave her extra recovery time before the final.

Sweden qualified five women to the semifinals, but only Dahlqvist and qualifying winner Johanna Hagström reached the final, the latter as a lucky loser. In the final Hagström crashed immediately after the start and could not contend. “I don’t know what happened—maybe Jessie and I came a bit tight together and I slipped on her skis; it was no one’s fault,” Hagström said.

In the other semifinal, Emma Ribom fell on a downhill without contact and saw her day end there. Among the overall contenders, Jessie Diggins advanced to the final as a lucky loser and finished fourth, banking important bonus seconds for the GC. Top Swedish sprinter Jonna Sundling is skipping the Tour to train during this Olympic season, while Linn Svahn withdrew late due to a foot injury.

Official results are available via FIS.