Diggins Secures Podium at Tour de Ski; Leads Overall Standings

Jessie Diggins delivered a commanding performance in the second stage of the Tour de Ski on December 29, 2025, skiing to third place in the women’s 10k classic and moving into the overall lead of both the Tour de Ski and continuing her lead in the overall World Cup standings.

Diggins finished behind Norway’s Astrid Øyre Slind, who claimed victory and Austria’s Teresa Stadlober in second. The podium marked the 83rd World Cup podium of Diggins’ career and her 13th career World Cup podium in Toblach, Italy, a venue that has been central to her success since her first win there in the 5k skate in 2016.

Diggins, who favors individual start events due to the "race against the clock mentality," was aggressive from the opening gun, posting strong, steady splits through each checkpoint and keeping herself firmly in podium — and at times winning — contention throughout the race. At the 2.1k check, Diggins was 12.6 seconds out from the lead, sitting in fourth, behind Sweden's Frida Karlsson and Slind and Stadlober. Then, she turned on the jets. At the halfway mark, Diggins was sitting in third, decreasing the time back from the leader. With Karlsson's lead dwindling, it was now a fight between the American, Austrian and Norwegian. Over the final two kilometers, the effort intensified as she fought to the line. At each coaching zone, the U.S. tech team and support staff were in position, screaming at Diggins to just keep fighting. Fighting, she did. 

She ultimately crossed the finish line in third, a result that proved decisive in the overall standings. Diggins now holds the Tour de Ski lead and remains atop the World Cup standings, a position she carried into the Tour. A two-time Tour de Ski champion, Diggins finished third overall last season and is racing her final Tour de Ski with a focus on both performance and enjoyment.

On the men’s side, Gus Schumacher led the U.S. contingent with a 17th-place finish in the 10k classic. JC Schoonmaker finished 42nd, Kevin Bolger 43rd, Ben Ogden 47th, Zak Ketterson 79th and Jack Young 93rd. Julia Kern placed 41st for the women.