Strong Finish - Stadlober Just Misses the Podium at World Cup Final

Teresa Stadlober has wrapped up the World Cup season in cross-country skiing with an impressive performance. The Salzburg native finished fourth in the 50 km classic at the final in Lahti on Sunday, missing the podium by a mere 5.5 seconds behind Sweden's Ebba Andersson, who placed third.

A standout in this year's World Cup, Stadlober highlighted her season with two podium finishes: a second place in Val di Fiemme and a third in Les Rousses. "It has been an improvement compared to previous years; I was consistently in the top six and hit the podium twice," she remarked.

Despite her strong results this season, Stadlober expressed disappointment over her fourth-place finishes at both the World Championships and in Lahti. "I fought until the end. I gave it my all. I felt drained in the final stages of the race," she told ORF.

Stadlober is hopeful for the upcoming Olympic Games in Italy, where she is set to compete in the 50 km, a race she feels aligns well with her strengths. "I know that it's my race, and I look forward to it," Stadlober said, recalling her previous Olympic bronze in 2022 in Pyeongchang.

Overall, the World Cup victory was clinched by Therese Johaug, who finished with a significant lead of 1 minute and 3.3 seconds ahead of her Norwegian teammate Astrid Oeyre Slind, completing the race in 2:14:40.7. Stadlober’s consistent performance is a promising sign for her future in competitive cross-country skiing.