Therese Johaug claimed her fourth Tour de Ski title on January 5, 2025, following her impressive victory during the Women’s 10km Mass Start Free event held at Val di Fiemme, Italy. This triumph ties her with Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk for the most Tour de Ski titles ever won by women, marking Johaug's comeback to the sport after taking two years off for motherhood.
Crossing the finish line, Johaug couldn’t hide her excitement, exclaiming, "It’s amazing. Justyna has four and it’s cool to have the same as her. She is a legend and I’m so happy I took first place today too." Johaug had taken the overall lead during the Tour after winning the Skiathlon event the previous day, finishing with substantial gaps to her closest competitors: teammate Astrid Oeyre Slind was 22 seconds behind, and defending champion Jessie Diggins of the USA was trailing by 1:47.
Johaug's domination was evident as she approached the grueling final section, the steep climb of Alpe Cermis. With precise pacing, she led right from the start, determined not to let anyone else dictate the speed. The last time she competed on this challenging climb was during her victory five years ago. Johaug has been training on uphill slopes leading up to this race, preparing rigorously after her return to competition.
Five minutes from the ascent, where the slope peaked at 28%, Johaug switched gears, leaving her competitors to battle for the remaining podium spots. Slind, Weng, and Sweden's Ebba Andersson took up the chase but could not keep pace with the Norwegian's formidable speed. Crossing the finish line, Johaug had established more than a minute lead over her nearest rivals, clocking in at 25.5 seconds ahead of second-placed Slind, with Weng taking third at 28 seconds back.
"It was fantastic. I love this last climb... it was like the other times I’ve gone up this hill," Johaug said, reflecting on her performance. This win adds to her previous Tour victories which took place in the winters of 2013-2014, 2016, and 2019-2020. Winning four times at the Tour also significantly boosts Johaug's standing as she heads toward the upcoming World Championships.
On the other hand, Slind felt satisfied with her strong performance, acknowledging, "It was actually really fun. I had a nice pace so I didn’t really hurt too much today. I could gradually get to the race." Her consistent showing throughout the event secured her second place overall, solidifying her form alongside Johaug's spectacular finish.
Kerttu Niskanen, another prominent figure of the competition, expressed mixed feelings about finishing fourth overall. Despite enjoying some success on the podium during the stage races at Toblach, she found the steeper Val di Fiemme terrain less suited to her. "I’m satisfied with how I did as I reached the podium three times, especially with my fitness just starting to rise to this level," she stated, indicating hopes for future competitions.
"Overall, I feel really happy with my performance during the Tour," Niskanen continued, though noted, "I was not quite as strong here as I was earlier at Toblach." Her statement underlined the challenges athletes face adapting to different terrains and conditions throughout such grueling competitions.
The men’s division saw Johaug's compatriot Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo also winning his fourth Tour de Ski title, matching the achievements of Swiss skier Dario Cologna and adding to his own growing legend within the sport. He finished with nearly a minute and half lead over Austria’s Mika Vermeulen, who came second overall.
Coach Teemu Pasanen summarized the women’s overall performance as solid, noting "The women’s overall results were okay, and we achieved multiple podiums during individual competitions,” though the men's side had faced setbacks without key athletes. Looking forward, he remarked on the importance of recovery for upcoming competitions, particularly the Nordic World Championships being held from February 26 to March 9 in Trondheim.
With her victory, Johaug not only strengthens her legacy but also prepares her for upcoming challenges. "I know I will be home for a bit and then I will go to the World Cup... and I’m really looking forward to having some coffee and sleeping in before the next race," she said, embodying the spirit of sportsmanship and dedication, eagerly preparing for what lies next on her athletics calendar.