The Tour de Ski skiathlon in Val di Fiemme, Italy, witnessed a dominant performance by Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who secured a convincing victory in the 10km classic + 10km freestyle race. Klæbo’s win solidified his overall lead in the Tour, placing him a significant 2 minutes and 18 seconds ahead of his Norwegian compatriot, Erik Valnes. While Klæbo celebrated, the Swedish team faced disappointment, with none of their skiers managing to contend for a podium finish.
Calle Halfvarsson, the highest-placed Swede, ended the race in 14th position, almost 30 seconds behind Klæbo. Halfvarsson expressed frustration with his ski performance, attributing his inability to keep pace with the leaders to what he perceived as inferior equipment. He pointed out that despite feeling like he was exerting more effort than his competitors, he was still losing ground, especially on sections of the course where he typically excels. This left him feeling disheartened and questioning the role his skis played in the outcome.
Edvin Anger, who had occupied second place overall in the Tour de Ski standings before the skiathlon, experienced a significant setback, finishing 28th and dropping to tenth place overall. Anger admitted to struggling in the freestyle portion of the race, acknowledging that his skate skiing hasn’t been at the same level as his classic skiing this year. This proved costly, as he steadily lost ground after the ski changeover. The challenging conditions seemed to affect the entire Swedish team, as their performance fell short of expectations across the board.
The race saw dramatic moments, including a fall by pre-race favorite Simen Hegstad Krüger. Krüger, another Norwegian contender, was leading the race when he fell and broke a pole just before the first exchange. This unfortunate incident effectively ended his chances of victory, ultimately leaving him to finish in 51st place. Despite this setback for Krüger, the Norwegian team still celebrated a strong overall performance with Klæbo’s win and Jenssen’s podium finish.
The skiathlon unfolded with a close initial phase. Both Anger and Poromaa remained within striking distance of the leaders after the 10km classic leg, trailing by only three to four seconds. However, the dynamics shifted significantly during the freestyle portion. Anger steadily lost ground, while Poromaa initially seemed capable of maintaining contact with the front group. As the pace intensified, the gap between Poromaa and the leaders widened. Although he managed to hold on to the main pack, he found himself relegated to the back as the group stretched out.
The disappointing results for the Swedish team continued with Marcus Grate, who had surprised many with a third-place finish in the previous day’s sprint. Grate struggled in the skiathlon, finishing in 58th place, almost nine minutes behind Klæbo. This underscored the challenging day faced by the Swedish skiers, highlighting the contrast between their performances in the sprint and the demanding skiathlon. Klæbo’s victory, coupled with the struggles of his competitors, solidified his position as the dominant force in the Tour de Ski, heading into the final stage. The remaining skiers now face the daunting task of trying to close the substantial gap he has created.
