Cross-country skiing : Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo takes the lead in the skiathlon
The cross-country skiing world cup skiathlon took place in optimal conditions again this Saturday in Val di Fiemme (Italy). The sixth and penultimate competition of the 2024/2025 Tour de Ski, this event lived up to all its promises with a big battle between the favourites in the overall rankings.
And even if the peloton didn’t panic for most of the race, despite the crash of Simen Hegstad Krueger and the loss of contact of Edvin Anger, second overall at the start, Johannes Hoesflot Klæbo didn’t hesitate to show all his power and sprinting skills at the end of the course.
Already winner of the two sprints in the competition, the Norwegian further consolidated his domination of this nineteenth edition of the race by outrunning all his rivals with a blistering attack on the final climb of the Transalpine route.
The Scandinavian is now wearing the gold number more than ever and, barring an unlikely loss of control and a breakdown, should no longer be in any danger, as he now has a lead of 2 minutes and 18 seconds over Erik Valnes, his compatriot and first chaser.
Federico Pellegrino made up for the incomprehensible choice he made the day before in the final pack of the classic sprint. Very clever and ideally placed, the Italian did what he had to do to take second place on the podium on home soil.
Jan Thomas Jenssen, who has often been in the thick of the skateboarding action at the start of this winter, confirmed that he will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in this type of event. A formidable sprinter, the Norwegian snatched third place on the day from team-mate Haavard Moseby.
Hugo Lapalus and Mathis Desloges still in touch
Behind Mika Vermeulen, sixth after leading the race for a long time, Friedrich Moch and Erik Valnes, Hugo Lapalus took a good eighth place. The Frenchman, who also played an active role in the competition by riding at the front of the leading group, was able to make up some ground on his main rivals in the overall standings.
Mathis Desloges, the second and final Frenchman in the running after Rémi Bourdin withdrew at the last minute, did not disappoint either, staying on the right track to finish in eleventh place. A performance that keeps him in contention for a first top 10 overall in his first Tour de Ski appearance.
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