Tour de Ski Overall Victory is the Domain of Four Women – Here are Five Highlights from the Grand Finale

Yle Urheilu goes through the Tour de Ski in this article, focusing on the last three competitions with skiing expert Aino-Kaisa Saarinen.

Rare Finnish Success

A Finnish female skier has reached the podium in every race of this Tour. Jasmi Joensuu was second in the first free sprint race.

Since then, Kerttu Niskanen has been among the top three three times, achieving the best position of second in the traditional mass start race.

This kind of success is rare for Finnish women in the Tour de Ski. The last time a Finnish woman finished in such a number of races in succession was during the 2008-2009 season.

During that time, the streak was six races long. In those races, Aino-Kaisa Saarinen finished in the top three five times, and Virpi Kuitunen did so four times, with Kuitunen celebrating four first-place finishes, the last being against Saarinen during the climb at Alpe Cermis. Finnish women achieved a historical double victory in the overall competition.

For a long time, Finnish women had quieter years in the Tour, while in the last four seasons, podium finishes have accumulated for Finnish women 13 times. Niskanen has those eight during this period, Krista Pärmäkoskella three, and both Jasmi Joensuu and Johanna Matintalo have one each.

Out of Niskanen’s podium finishes in this year's Tour, one has been from the free individual start.

– Kerttu’s medal chances at the World Championships in Trondheim look really promising. She has consistency in all distances. The fitness level is so high, so one could say that a medal is coming, says Yle Urheilu’s skiing expert Aino-Kaisa Saarinen.

Jasmi Joensuu celebrated her career-best finish in a regular World Cup about a week ago, when she finished eighth. Image Source: Viaplay.

Confusing Points System

In the Tour de Ski, various points pots are distributed, which troubles many. In a single race, fewer points are awarded compared to other World Cup races.

For example, only 50 points are awarded for a first place. The value of a win in terms of points is not significant since the second place in the race receives just three points less.

The overall winner receives an additional 300 points. Within the individual races, bonus seconds are distributed that reduce the skiers' time from the total time for the tour.

Additionally, separate points are distributed in the sprint and in a new format: the hill jump. This is an internal competition that does not accumulate extra points toward the overall World Cup tally.

Saarinen, who competed in the Tour several times before, also finds the system confusing.

– I can’t say exactly where the hill jump points come from. It is very difficult. This has become more complicated year after year.

Even during Saarinen's competitive years, there were ambiguities, although things were clearer in the beginning.

– We athletes complained, as we couldn’t keep track then either. I don’t know why the International Ski Federation wants to complicate a simple sport like this.

Astrid Öyre Slind is leading the women’s race. Image Credit: Lehtikuva / Emmi Korhonen

A Lot of Prize Money

The Tour de Ski is awarding Swiss currency, namely francs. The overall winners of the Tour will receive around €91,700. Prize money is awarded to the top 20 skiers of the overall competition.

Additionally, money is distributed to the top three athletes in each individual race. The winner receives around €3,200.

The pots for regular World Cup races are lighter. Niskanen received about €2,000 for her best finish in the Tour so far, which was second place, whereas she would have accumulated over €10,000 from a similar finish in a regular World Cup race.

"Sweden’s Iivo Niskanen"

The biggest surprise on the men’s side of the Tour so far comes from the Swedish national team. The big 22-year-old Edvin Anger is currently second in the men's competition, 36 seconds behind Norway's Johannes Høsflot Klæbo after four races.

Initially, Anger was mainly seen as a strong sprinter. In the 2021 Junior World Championships, he was defeated by the championship winner Niilo Moilanen.

This season, Anger has taken a significant leap as an all-round skier. He has been predicted to be the first male Tour winner from Sweden.

In Wednesday's pursuit race in the traditional skiing style, he made a big impression on Saarinen. Anger was second and beat Klæbo, who finished third.

– That was a huge bomb. At least it surprised me. He masters both skiing styles. He might become the winner of the Tour one day, Saarinen believes.

Edvin Anger was close to victory on Wednesday. Image Source: Viaplay.

As a tall skier, Anger stands out. On the other hand, Iivo Niskanen is also a tall skater.

– It is great that different types of people can succeed as cross-country skiers. You don’t have to be small and peppery but can succeed with different qualities.

Anger has quickly become Sweden’s top male skier, surpassing William Poromaa.

– He is like Sweden’s Iivo Niskanen. Of course, he has come through the sprints, which is a typical pattern.

Aino-Kaisa Saarinen and Virpi Kuitunen battled for the Tour victory 16 years ago. Then the final climb was run as a pursuit. Image Source: EPA

Pursuit Racing is More Exciting

For now, the overall race for the women seems to be a domain of four women. Norway's Astrid Öyre Slind and Therese Johaug, along with Kerttu Niskanen and the USA's Jessie Diggins, are all within a minute of each other.

Saarinen hopes that the excitement for the win culminates in the legendary Alpe Cermis in a pursuit format. Since 2020, the final race has been run as a mass start.

Many Finnish ski fans remember Saarinen, Kuitunen, and Slovenia's Petra Majdic’s fierce battle from the 2009 Tour. At that time, the race was run as a pursuit.

– Absolutely back. It is easier to see who wins. It is more viewer-friendly. I don’t understand why it was switched to this format.