American cross-country skier Jessie Diggins secured a stunning victory in the opening sprint of the Tour de Ski in Toblach, Italy, marking her first World Cup sprint win in three years. This triumph positions her well for the overall title. In the men's competition, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo of Norway took the top spot, while the U.S. team saw a strong performance from Ben Ogden who finished sixth.
Diggins, a three-time Olympic medalist, expressed her surprise and delight at the win, stating she had thought she was past the point of sprint victories. This victory is especially significant as Toblach was the site of her first career podium in the Tour de Ski. Her final push in the 1.4km freestyle sprint saw her surpass Finland’s Jasmi Joensuu in the last few meters, finishing 0.31 seconds ahead. Switzerland’s Nadine Faehndrich came in third.
Following her sprint victory, Diggins now holds a seven-second lead going into Sunday’s 15km classic mass start. She also takes possession of the sprint leader bib, along with her yellow bib as the current overall World Cup leader. The U.S. team displayed its depth, with eight athletes making it to the sprint heats.
On the men’s side, Ben Ogden’s sixth-place finish was a notable highlight, despite breaking a pole during the final. Ogden, who had previously achieved a podium finish in Toblach last year, emphasized his smart skiing and confidence in handling the pressure.
Meanwhile, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo dominated the men's sprint, finishing 0.4 seconds ahead of France's Lucas Chanavat. Switzerland's Janik Riebli secured the final podium spot. Klæbo is now aiming to tie the record with a fourth Tour de Ski title.
The Tour de Ski, a grueling seven-stage competition spanning nine days, continues on Sunday, promising more exciting races as athletes compete for the coveted title.
