Jessie Diggins launched her bid for a third Tour de Ski title with a dramatic victory on Saturday in the opening 1.4km freestyle sprint in Toblach, Italy.
“This was a huge surprise,” Diggins said after her first World Cup sprint win in three years, a triumph that left the three-time Olympic medalist elated and surprised. “I kind of thought I was getting old and not ready to have another sprint victory, so this was amazing.”
The win was particularly special for Diggins, as Toblach was where she earned her first career podium during a previous Tour de Ski.
Diggins timed her push to perfection, overtaking Finland’s Jasmi Joensuu by 0.31sec in the final meters. Switzerland’s Nadine Faehndrich finished third.
The win gives Diggins a seven-second lead heading into Sunday’s 15km classic mass start, the second stage of the Tour. She also earned the sprint leader bib alongside her yellow bib as the current overall World Cup leader.
The US cross-country ski team showed depth with eight athletes advancing to the sprint heats. On the men’s side, Ben Ogden impressed with a sixth-place finish despite breaking a pole in the final.
“This course has memories for me,” Ogden said, reflecting on last year’s podium finish in Toblach. “I skied smart, handled the nerves, and stayed confident.”
Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, seeking a record-tying fourth Tour de Ski title, dominated the men’s sprint, winning by 0.4sec. France’s Lucas Chanavat and Switzerland’s Janik Riebli rounded out the podium.
The Tour de Ski, a seven-stage, nine-day series of races modeled after the Tour de France that straddles the New Year, continues Sunday.
