Tour de Ski: Johannes Klaebo Dominates the Skiathlon in Val di Fiemme

Tour de Ski: Johannes Klaebo Dominates the Skiathlon in Val di Fiemme (World Cup)

Johannes Klaebo, who is leading the Tour de Ski, claimed victory in the 20 km skiathlon at Val di Fiemme, Italy, on Saturday. He finished ahead of home favorite Federico Pellegrino and fellow Norwegian Jan Thomas Jenssen, while Hugo Lapalus was the top French competitor in eighth place.

Klaebo, demonstrating his dominance throughout the 2025 Tour de Ski, has already won three stages including the sprint held on Friday. In the skiathlon, which consisted of 10 km in classic style followed by 10 km in freestyle, Klaebo swiftly took the lead as the race progressed.

Despite an early fall by 2018 Olympic champion Simon Krueger, Klaebo maintained his pace, outpacing competitors with his unparalleled technique in the skating portion. He further solidified his lead in the final ascent, finishing confidently and without requiring the use of his poles in the last stretch.

Pellegrino secured second place, finishing just 2.4 seconds behind Klaebo, with Jenssen claiming third at 3.9 seconds back. Klaebo's latest win sets him up for a strong chance of clinching his fourth Tour de Ski title, as he holds over a two-minute lead over his nearest competitors, Erik Valnes and Haavard Moseby, ahead of the climb to Alpe Cermis.

Hugo Lapalus, who has been showing great form, finished eighth in the day’s race and currently sits in fifth place overall, while Mathis Desloges is also positioned in the top ten in the general classification.

This skiathlon victory reflects Klaebo’s exceptional skill in cross-country skiing, contributing to the anticipation of his continued success in the upcoming stages of the Tour de Ski.