January 03, 2017 (Oberstdorf, Germany) – American Jessie Diggins powered to a stellar second-place, career-best, podium finish in the women’s 5km/5km Skiathlon while teammate Sadie Bjornsen earned a best-ever 5th for an impressive performance by the US duo in Oberstdorf, Germany on stage three of the Tour de Ski.

Tour leader Stina Nilsson from Sweden took the win in an all-out sprint with Diggins to the line as the young Swede earned the first non-sprint World Cup win of her career. Norway’s Heidi Weng claimed 3rd. With the top 10 athletes separated by only 12 seconds the thrilling race was one closest women’s mass start competitions in years.

“That was a really exciting race, with the whole field staying so close together the entire time,” said Diggins. “I felt great and positioning became really crucial up that final climb. I gave the finish stretch everything I had and it was so exciting to be so close to the win.”

Four Americans finished in the points with Kikkan Randall 28th and Liz Stephen 30th while Rosie Brennan finished 45th. It was a career best Skiathlon finish for both Diggins and Bjornsen.

“Today was an incredible day,” said Bjornsen. “We woke up to sun and fresh snow.. and I couldn’t help but feel like it was Christmas, so I was in a good mood. I had an exceptionally frustrating day two days ago, with the worst explosion I have experienced on the World Cup, so I was determine to turn things around for myself.”

Diggins and Bjornsen skied together for much of the race, hanging in the top 10 through most of the 5km classic leg before Diggins dropped back to 18th at the changeover while Bjornsen was 12th. It was a tightly packed group from the start with only 10 seconds separating the top 19 at the changeover.

“In the classical part I tried to stay with the group and not fall back too much,” said Diggins. “I had great, fast skis and had more fun in the free technique leg, but it was great to be in the lead group also after the classic portion.”

Bjornsen said she tried to be a little more casual with her start and use the whole 10k to move up. “I actually didn’t really notice skiing around Jessie until the final climb when I looked up and saw she was leading. I always love skiing around Jess, because it feels a bit like home and gives me confidence. So I find myself doing it more often than not,” commented the Alaska skier.

In the skate leg, Diggins caught up to Bjornsen and the two went right back into the top 10. At the midway mark of the skate leg, Diggins made a decisive move through the tightly packed field on a downhill section to take the lead. Then she battled with Nilsson all the way to the finish with the American putting heavy pressure on the Swede to the line taking home the silver.

“Today was a day that really builds confidence for myself and the team and keeps me excited for the stages of the Tour yet to come,” said Diggins.

Bjornsen was over the moon as well. “Today was amazing for me, because it’s a new PR. I skied the 5th fastest split in the 10k pursuit start in Quebec City last year, but this is my first official time to break my “7th place streak”. It gives me some good confidence going forward in this Tour. Big thanks to the wax crew, I had incredible skis on a challenging day midway through the Tour. Pursuits are always tricky, and then you stick it in the middle of the Your, and it speaks great for the wax crew,” added Bjornsen.

“I’m so proud of Sadie and excited for her career-best finish. She is such an impressive racer, and it was great to get four girls into the points today! A big, HUGE thanks to our staff and wax techs. My skis were absolute rockets today and they’re the real heroes behind the scenes making it possible for us to go race our hardest,” concluded Diggins.

Results here.
Overall here.