Claudel Shines with Second Place Finish in Canmore Mass Start

In a stunning display of skill and perseverance, French cross-country skier Delphine Claudel secured a hard-fought second place in the women’s 15 km mass start freestyle event at Canmore, Canada. She finished just behind American star Jessie Diggins, who crossed the finish line at 40 minutes and 26 seconds, leaving Claudel trailing by a mere 2.6 seconds. Meanwhile, fellow French athlete Flora Dolci delivered an impressive performance, clinching fifth place, only 4.2 seconds behind Claudel.

The competition was notably fierce, with Norwegian skier Heidi Weng claiming the third spot, finishing less than three seconds after Diggins. Diggins' performance has propelled her to the top of the World Cup standings, where she holds a considerable lead over Swedish contenders Linn Svahn and Frida Karlsson.

In the men’s category, Jules Lapierre and Jules Chappaz shone brightly, finishing in sixth and seventh places, respectively. The race was dominated by Norwegian Simen Hegstad Krueger, who timed an impressive 36 minutes and 6.5 seconds. He was closely followed by Harald Oestberg Amundsen, while Austrian Mika Vermeulen secured a strong third place finish.

This event proved to be a significant highlight of the World Cup series, showcasing not just intense competition but also remarkable performances from both women's and men's fields.