Diggins defeats Slind to claim 'huge' 10k win

Since winning the Women's 10km Interval Start Free at the Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Les Rousses, France, two weekends ago, Jessie Diggins (USA) had experienced a mix of results, missing the podium in three Sprint races and finishing fifth in the 20km Mass Start Free in Engadin, Switzerland, last week.

The defending overall World Cup champion returned to the top in Cogne, Italy, clocking a time 5.1 seconds faster than her main rival, Astrid Oeyre Slind (NOR), while Kerttu Niskanen (FIN) completed the podium 15.4 seconds behind Diggins. The course, set at 1500m altitude with challenging uphill segments and technical downhill turns, perfectly suited Diggins’ strengths.

Expressing her joy after the race, a 33-year-old Diggins credited her win to excellent skis and overwhelming support from the crowd. This victory increased her World Cup points tally to 1,646, further solidifying her overall lead and serving as a timely confidence boost ahead of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim later this month. The 10km race in Cogne marked the final race before a two-week break, with the next World Cup competition scheduled in Falun, Sweden from February 14-16.