Simon Hegstad Krüger is the fastest climber among the cross-country skiers. The Norwegian wins the final stage of the Tour de Ski up to Alpe Cermis.
05.01.2025, 15:16
05.01.2025, 15:45
SDA
In the race with mass start, the two-time Olympic champion and three-time world champion pulled away from Austria's Mika Vermeulen and Germany's Friedrich Moch in the final meters to celebrate his eleventh World Cup victory. Krüger is already 31 years old. His star rose in 2018 at the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, when he first won the skiathlon and then took silver in the 15 km behind Dario Cologna.
There was no more suspense in the overall standings. Johannes Hösflot Klaebo had things under control at all times in 18th place, 1:13 minutes behind. In the final standings, his lead over Vermeulen was almost one and a half minutes. With his fourth success in this stage race, he caught up with record winner Cologna.
Beda Klee, who finished a strong fifth overall last year, was one of the losers at this winter's Tour. The man from eastern Switzerland was unable to hide the fact that he had fallen ill with coronavirus at Christmas. He hoped that he would find his way back into the Tour from race to race. But the opposite was the case: it was a mess. After 44th place in the final stage, he finished 30th.
Janik Riebli (54th) also finished the Tour de Ski. The sprinter from the canton of Obwalden provided the Swiss highlights for the men with 3rd place at the start in Toblach and the final qualification in Cavalese.
