The 2024-2025 Tour de Ski competition recently made headlines as athletes faced the challenges posed by extreme cold and fierce competition during its third stage held at Toblach, Italy. The women’s and men’s 20km Interval Start Freestyle races put the endurance and skill of some of the best cross-country skiers to the test.
The stage featured some thrilling moments, with highlights coming from reigning champion Harald Oestberg Amundsen and veteran racer Astrid Øyre Slind, among others. Athletes braved sub-zero temperatures and gusty winds, testing not only their racing capabilities but their physical resilience.
The women’s race saw Astrid Øyre Slind claim victory, marking her first Freestyle win. Slind, 36, had already established herself earlier this season by winning the Women's 20km Interval Start Classic at Davos. "It feels amazing. Finally, I can prove I can do it in skate as well, so I'm really happy," Slind remarked after her triumph.
Her performance was not without its challenges. Starting slow and facing obstacles, Slind found herself in fourth place at the 10.6km marker, trailing leader Therese Johaug by over 16 seconds. Johaug had dominated the early stages and aimed for her own third World Cup victory this year, only to see Slind surge back as they entered the final stretch of the race.
At the finish, Slind crossed the line just 3.3 seconds before Johaug, showcasing her tactical acumen and physical prowess. "It was one of the most fun races I've ever done. We were ski racing together from the top of the hill, and it was really good collaboration between Canada, Sweden, and Norway," Slind added, highlighting the camaraderie among competitors.
Johaug, who finished as the runner-up, articulated her satisfaction with the race, stating, "I feel like I’m having a good technique and my shape is gettingbetter andbetter. I’m so happy with my shape, with my race today and my body." Her strong performance positioned her closer to the overall title as the event progresses.
Meanwhile, the men's race saw Harald Oestberg Amundsen dominate the course, showcasing remarkable distance-racing credentials and determination to retain his crown. After starting the race eighth in the general standings and more than a minute behind rival Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, Amundsen quickly made up ground.
Petter Northug, cross-country skiing legend, aptly summarized the course conditions, stating, "The first 10 kilometres will be pretty tough, the second 10K will be pretty fast." Following this strategy, Amundsen took the lead and crossed the finish line with a time of 44 minutes, 5.3 seconds—over 21 seconds before runner-up Simen Hegstad Krueger. Remarkably, he was 46.4 seconds faster than Klaebo, who finished fifth.
Reflecting on his performance, Amundsen noted, "I was able to adjust during the race; from the top – 10K and down – I was quite fast and had a lot of energy." This victory moved him up to second place overall, slicing Klaebo's lead from 34 seconds down to 16 seconds. The upcoming days promise to intensify the rivalry between these elite athletes.
The Tour de Ski event is not only about individual victories but also about team dynamics and shared struggles. Jessie Diggins, the overall leader before the race, faced her own challenges, finishing sixth yet clinging tightly to the lead with four events remaining. Her resilience was somewhat buoyed by her teammate Julia Kern, who tried to provide assistance throughout the grueling 20km course.
Going forward, competitors will need to maintain their energy and strategy with tight margins separating them. Niko Niskanen, who finished third, shares Slind's desire to challenge for the podium. "I’m really happy with my performance," she explained. "I liked this long uphill and tried to keep my speed on the downhill. It was really nice."
This year’s competitive atmosphere has invigorated the Tour de Ski, with fans eager to see how the upcoming stages will shake up the standings. Each racer is vying not only for individual glory but also for national pride as they represent their countries on this elite sporting stage.
With the climax approaching, both leaders and contenders alike will face mounting pressure as the remaining events test their limits. The next leg includes the men’s and women’s 15km Pursuit Classic, promising more exhilarating performances from this talented field of cross-country skiers. Fans can hardly wait as the tale of the Tour de Ski continues to develop, one race at a time.