Cross-country skiing: after Harald Oestberg Amundsen pulls out, Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo has a free hand
This Friday, the 2024/2025 Tour de Ski enters the home straight. With the race moving from Toblach (Italy) to Val di Fiemme (Italy), the stakes are getting higher… especially as the final ascent of Alpe Cermis approaches.
In the men’s general classification, Thursday’s rest day was marked by the withdrawals of Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, Gus Schumacher and… Harald Oestberg Amundsen. Third in the hierarchy after four stages out of seven, the latter had won two in a row and was the main challenger to Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo, currently wearing the gold bib.
“We’ve lost a serious contender in this Tour de Ski, Maurice Manificat, Eurosport consultant, told Nordic Magazine. Personally, I only saw him as a match for Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo! Sprinting wasn’t his thing, but the various retirements could have given him a chance of getting through the qualifiers, especially as he’s versatile.”
Maurice Manificat has little faith in Edvin Anger’s chances
So it was Sweden’s Edvin Anger, second at 36 seconds, who seemed to be the last line of defence against Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo.
“On the climb, I can’t see him doing well, although you never know as he’s in such good form at the moment, says Maurice Manificat. Despite everything, I don’t think that’s going to stop the end of the Tour de Ski being great. We have some serious competition behind us with Hugo Lapalus, Mika Vermeulen, Andrew Musgrave and Simen Hegstad Krueger. There are still some good contenders, but I don’t see them challenging [Johannes Hoesflot] Klæbo.”
The suspense is still there on the women’s side
On the women’s side, the former Isère cross-country skier points out that a “serious match” is currently underway between Norway’s Astrid Oeyre Slind and Therese Johaug, separated by 6 seconds.
“We also have Kerttu Niskanen who is having a blazing Tour de Ski [third at 28 seconds, editor’s note]. The races are very interesting, very tight and with incredible twists and turns!” American Jessie Diggins is just 1 min 1 behind.
- Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo vs Harald Oestberg Amundsen: the New Year’s Day chase will pit the two Norwegian monsters against each other
- Harald Oestberg Amundsen, currently third overall and twice winner in Toblach, is retiring from the Tour de Ski.
