Swedish cross-country skier Moa Ilar finished eighth in the Tour de Ski after a weak final climb to Alpe Cermis. She criticizes how much of the tour is decided on the demanding hill. Ebba Andersson was the top Swede in fourth place.
The Tour de Ski concluded with the classic climb to Alpe Cermis in Val di Fiemme, Italy. Moa Ilar, who was third overall before the stage, finished 26th on the final leg and dropped to eighth place, 4:21.0 minutes behind the winner.
"It's sour that so much is decided on this hill," says Ilar. "I've had a very good tour overall and did five very good stages; it's sour that so much is decided on this hill. It's brutally decisive. There are many who are far behind me in the total, with several minutes, who can climb up."
Ilar also points to the sprint stage, which gave little time but required much energy. She was disqualified from the sprint final after an incident in her semifinal. "It becomes especially special when the sprinters don't really mean anything. You earn nothing on the sprint, but you still go far and have to compete much more than others."
Ebba Andersson, who finished fifth on the final stage, took fourth place overall, 2:41.1 minutes behind the winner. She defends the hill's role: "This hill is a bit of the signature of the tour, and we are all well aware of how demanding it is and that it has a very big significance."
Andersson suggests returning to a chase start, where the leader starts first with their lead. "Now it's only when the hill starts that the seconds start to be picked up. Until the hill, it's relatively status quo." She won the climb in 2021 and finished second overall in 2022.
American Jessie Diggins won the Tour de Ski for the third time, ahead of Teresa Stadlober, Austria (+2:17.7), and Heidi Weng, Norway (+2:31.6). Norwegian Karoline Simpson-Larsen won the stage.
Frida Karlsson withdrew due to foot problems, Emma Ribom left due to a cold. Jonna Sundling and Linn Svahn skipped the tour for Olympic preparations and injury concerns, respectively.
Final standings women (Swedish placements): 1) Diggins, USA; 4) Andersson +2:41.1; 8) Ilar +4:21.0; 11) Lundgren +4:59.7; 14) Dahlqvist +5:44.5.
