Ilar eyes Crystal Globe after Oberhof win: 'I'd lie if I said anything else'

Sweden’s Moa Ilar claimed the victory in the Women’s 10km Interval Start Classic at the Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Oberhof, Germany on Sunday.

Overall World Cup standings runner-up made it to the top of the podium for the first time this season as he finished in 24:37.0, beating Teresa Stadlober of Austria in second place by 0.7 seconds. Jonna Sundling (SWE) completed the podium, 20.8 seconds behind her teammate.

"It feels amazing. It was a really tough day today so I’m very happy to go all the way up to the first place,” said Ilar, whose last World Cup victory came in the 10km Free in Oslo, Norway, in March last year.

Norway’s Karoline Groetting, with start number 7, took a big lead in the race as she crossed the finish line in 25:08.7, earning a spot in the leader’s chair where she would stay for quite some time. 

Groetting, who made her World Cup debut with a 30th place in the Sprint Free on Saturday, was only beaten when Ilar, with bib 48, finished. 

At the 5km mark, the Swede had been 3.1 seconds ahead of Groetting, who had the second best time of the day after the first loop. Saving plenty of second half of the two-lap race, however, Ilar flew to the victory and finished 31.7 seconds faster than the Norwegian.

"I was struggling very early in the race so I’m really happy that I managed to keep it up," said Ilar, who claimed the third individual World Cup victory of her career.

Groetting had to settle for an impressive fifth place in her second race in the World Cup circuit.

Overall World Cup leader Jessie Diggins could get the split times of most other competitors as she started as number 58 of 62 skiers, but was just under 10 seconds from a podium position as she crossed the line half a minute after Ilar.

Stadlober, with start number 54, made a serious attempt to beat the Swedish leader, but would perhaps have needed to start her strong final push sooner. After 7.6km, the Austrian was 17 seconds behind Ilar – a gap that she at 9km had cut down to 10.1 seconds. Finishing less than a second behind the winner, however, the Tour de Ski Overall runner-up was pleased to make it onto her fourth podium this winter.

”It feels really good, I had a really good finish,” Stadlober said.

”I am a little bit sad because I was so tight behind the win but it was a good race and I think I have made a really good recovery from Tour de Ski.

Stadlober said her podium finishes this winter have given her plenty of confidence coming into the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in February.

”You really can’t get used to the ceremonies, I like it,” the 32-year-old said.

Sundling had shown superb form as she won the Women's Sprint Free on Saturday, and had plenty left in the tank on Sunday as she made top-three times for the last 6km of the race, making it onto her sixth podium this season.

This season’s Tour de Ski champion Diggins leaves Oberhof as the leader in the Overall Women’s standings with 1,361 points – 149 more than runner-up Ilar, who closed the gap a little with Sunday’s victory, as Maja Dahlqvist (SWE) is placed third with 940 points.

Ilar said that she is going for the Overall Crystal globe.

"Of course I am. I would lie if I’d say anything else," Ilar said.

"It’s going to be so much fun. I’m looking forward to the rest (of the season). The Olympics, and then continue (with the World Cup), it’s going to be amazing."

The Cross-Country World Cup continues next weekend with its last stage before the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. In the competitions in Goms, Switzerland, 23-25 January, the world’s best skiers will get a last chance to test their shape against each other, in Team Sprint Free, Sprint Classic and 20km Mass Start Classic.

Click here for full results from the Women’s 10km Interval Start Classic, here to see the Women’s Overall World Cup standings and here to follow FIS Cross-Country on YouTube.