January 10, 2016 (Val di Fiemme, ITA) – Jessie Diggins led Team USA with a top 10 finish overall with teammates Sadie Bjornsen and Liz Stephen in 14th and 19th respectively as Norway’s Therese Johaug defended her title and claimed her second consecutive Tour de Ski title.

Diggins, who won her first World Cup stage at the Tour as well, held her ground on the final 9k FR climb up Alpe Cermis to remain in tenth, her best overall result at the Tour, while Stephen had the third fastest time moving up six places as she started in 25th and finished 19th. Stephen has been as fast as second to Johaug who made it six consecutive “fastest of the day” times up Cermis. Bjornsen, who completed her first Tour also established a strong career-best  result.

“It was a great tour and a cool one for team USA with two wins and seven finishers. One of my big goals for the season was to finish the Tour in the top 10 so I made that goal today! That climb is brutally hard and I was in a world of pain, but I had to tell myself to just keep my feet moving,” said Diggins.

It was the strongest overall performance by the USA ever in the Tour, with a pair of stage wins and seven finishers. Last year Stephen was fifth overall in the Tour de Ski, which remains the best result ever by an American in the multi-stage event. Rosie Brennan finished 32nd overall and Caitlin Gregg was 42nd.

“This year’s Tour was much different than last year as we had many more athletes looking to compete this year. In the Tour, the reality is who can stay healthy and survive the intensity and we had seven athletes that were able to persevere which was a huge success for us,” said Women’s Coach Matt Whitcomb.

Johaug outpaced all challengers to take home another Tour trophy. “I had a really good day today. My shape has been great today. I hoped I could take some seconds on Ingvild before the climb. It worked better than I had hoped. It was my dream and big goal to win the Tour de Ski. Ingvild has pushed me at every stage of the Tour this year. I think this was my Tour de Ski ever,” she commented.

Fastest of the Day results here.
Final Standings here.