The 2024-25 Tour de Ski has begun, but the German cross-country skiing team is struggling to keep pace with their international counterparts. After two competitions held in the picturesque Toblach, Italy, nothing seemed to indicate the expected German dominance, as athletes like Victoria Carl and Friedrich Moch faced setbacks.
Victoria Carl, the reigning team sprint Olympic champion, came 17th with over 1 minute and 26 seconds behind the winner, Jessie Diggins of the USA, who finished the 15-kilometer classic mass start race impressively. The race revealed the issues for the German athletes, especially lacking the speeds needed to compete with the top international skiers.
"I felt very bad at the finish," said Carl, reflecting the overall sentiment of the team after rounding off their performances poorly. While Carl's struggle to find rhythm was significant, it paled next to the challenges faced by Friedrich Moch, last year's runner-up. He began the 15-kilometer race starting 73rd and managed to claw his way to 6th at one point before falling back to 39th. "I had to start far behind and wanted to fight my way forward; it wasn’t easy," Moch lamented after his effort saw him falling behind as the race progressed.
Jessie Diggins, leading the event and securing two victories so far, showcased her formidable skills with her multiple successes, proving her status as the frontrunner and title defender, not only winning the sprint but besting her competitors again. Meanwhile, Carl and Moch's experiences point to broader problems within the German team, as many had expected them to challenge for podium finishes.
Despite some bright spots, like Laura Gimmler finishing 19th and hitting the top 20, the reality was stark. The top two positions were claimed by athletes from the USA and Finland, indicating the growing strength of the international competition.
The challenges facing the German athletes extended beyond personal performances. Sofie Krehl had already withdrawn from the Tour up to this point, citing the need to focus on her training for the upcoming World Championships. The Deutscher Skiverband (DSV), announced Krehl’s withdrawal prior to the races, indicating her need to develop her sprinting more effectively without the pressure of the Tour, which provided its own kind of strain, evident across the other skiers as well.
Looking down the timeline of the Tour, several races are still lined up for the German team to possibly recuperate from these opening setbacks, but with most athletes already claiming their worse-than-expected results, it begs the question of improvement. The Tour is set to continue with distance races scheduled over the New Year, and the athletes have one goal: to rediscover their form before the closing stages.
"We weren’t quite there with the skis," Carl noted as she reflected on the performance of the technical team, bringing awareness to the technical difficulties faced by athletes during such high-pressure environments. "The technicians are only human. I can’t do it any differently," Moch added, highlighting the inherent struggles athletes face beyond their performance.
And as the Tour continues, all eyes will be on the upcoming events, with the hopes of the German contingent resting on achieving momentum through camaraderie and performance. With Friedrich Moch and Victoria Carl leading the team, who knows what surprises might be waiting down the trail, reminding everyone of their capabilities and potential challenges still to come.