Diggins dominates Toblach 5km to take control of Tour de Ski

The final day of 2025 belonged to the USA in the FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Cup, as Jessie Diggins won the women’s 5km Heat Mass Start Free – a new event on the circuit – in Toblach, Italy to go with Gus Schumacher’s victory in the men’s race earlier in the day.

The third race of the traditional mid-season Tour de Ski – which has been shortened from seven events to six because of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in February – the 5K was surrounded my mystery, not only because it’s not a distance the skiers normally race over, but also because of the nature of the course in Toblach.

A fairly flat first lap followed by one big climb and a smaller ascent on the second loop made it questionable as to whether the race would suit an all-out sprinter or a distance specialist.

In the end, the women’s race was dominated by one of the sport’s great all-rounders. Diggins’ consistency in the Tour so far – fourth, third and first – is a microcosm of her career as a whole, especially recent seasons, when she has improved as a sprinter and a classic skier.

The 5km Freestyle suited Diggins’ all-out approach down to the ground. Buoyed by the visit of her parents over Christmas, the 34-year-old flew out of the starting gates in Heat Three, ensuring the pace would remain fast, then bided her time before attacking on the final climb. She accelerated away to claim the 27^th individual race victory of her World Cup career – at the same venue she claimed her first in 2016 - as she chases a third Tour title to go with her three Overall World Cup crowns.

Swedes Emma Ribom and Moa Ilar crossed the line 5.5 and 6.9 seconds behind the Minnesotan respectively. But it was still enough for them to claim the other two podium pace, such was the pace that Diggins set.

In fact, the top eight all came from Heat Three, with Leonie Perry (FRA), 20-year-old Alison Mackie (CAN), Eliza Rucka-Michalek (POL) and Dariya Nepryaeva (AIN) all achieving by far their best finishes in a World Cup race, as a host of big names fell further behind Diggins in the Tour de Ski Overall standings.

She said: “I was really excited to work with the girls in my heat, we had a great plan of everyone working together. Everyone did their part, which was awesome. Then, I just wanted to have the best fast 5K of my life.

“Huge congratulations to all of our wax techs and then I’m just so proud of [men’s 5K winner] Gus [Schumacher] and so excited for him. He works so hard and it’s really fun to see him on top again.”

Ribom was “super happy” with her second podium of the season and only her fourth in the last two years. “It was a really exciting race,” she said. “I didn’t really know what to expect because it’s the first time we are doing this format, so I’m super excited to be on the podium today.”

While Ribom has been trying to rediscover her best form, fellow 28-year-old Ilar has found some consistency. This is her fourth individual podium of the season, more than doubling her career tally. “Oh wow, that was really really hard; I was super tired at the end but I’m really glad that it worked all the way to the podium.

“I felt from the beginning that we had a really fast heat and I hoped that we could work it out. Right from the start, we have good collaboration, so I’m happy that it panned out. Hopefully the 20K tomorrow will work out, but we’ll see.”

The action continues in Toblach on Thursday with the 20km Pursuit Classic

For all the results from Toblach, click here