January 05, 2014 (Val di Fiemme, Italy) – It was Norway’s day as Therese Johaug won the fabled Tour de Ski but the USA’s Liz Stephen was shining bright as well delivering another strong finish in tough snowy conditions on the 9km FR final stage moving up to 7th overall from 14th with the 3rd fastest time up Alpe Cermis.

Therese Johaug becomes the first Norwegian to win the Tour © Nordic Focus

Her teammate Jessie Diggins was on form for an incredible finish ending up 13th at only her second Tour after starting the day in 11th following a career-best result in the 5km Classic race the day prior.

Not surprising the battle up Cermis was quickly won by Johaug as race leader Astrid Jacobsen was no match for her as expected. It was a resounding affirmation for Johaug and Norway, shut out of the Tour’s top step until today.

The real battle was for third as Krista Lahteenmaki challenged Heid Weng leading to a two-up sprint up-hill to the finish with Weng prevailing making it a Norwegian podium sweep – to ensure they left their mark on the Tour.

American Stephen was on fire as expected having placed second on this same stage last year. With heavy snow falling the pace was slower but the passion to excel was not dampened and the East Montpelier, VT-skier hammered her way up the mountain in style once again as she claimed the USA’s best-ever result at the Tour – Kikkan Randall was 10th two years ago.

SkiTrax caught up with Stephen for her take on the day, the Tour, the essence of getting the job done… and the power of  human spirit.

Liz Stephen nails 7th the USA's best result at the Tour © Nordic Focus

“I actually didn’t know that I set a record for Americans today, so I am really proud to be part of the crew that is making history in the Nordic world for our country. The final climb is a hell of a thing. I am sure that a day like today confirms to the alpiners how crazy we “Nords” really are,” commented Stephen.

For Stephen there’s something special in climbing Cermis, or any mountain for that matter.

“But there is something special out there on that mountain.  The human spirit is an incredible tool that accomplishes many wonderful things, but rarely is it shared all together on one day by a few hundred athletes, fans, friends, and families to do a weird, seemingly pointless feat like climbing a mountain.

“But as Jessie and I watched Ueli Steck climb the Eiger in World Record time this morning to get ourselves pumped up, I realized the human spirit is found in many different places, to achieve thousands of different feats all over the world, and today, we were to find ours on a mountain in Italy, doing a ridiculously silly thing.  But we inspired people today, and most of all one another and ourselves.

“Somehow, on this small alpine resort in Italy, each year, we push ourselves beyond the normal limits of the body and really get into our soul, with the goal of not only climbing as fast as we can, catching as many other competitors as we can but also pushing so hard that we feel empty at the top, numb, kaput, but satisfied.  I think it is this feeling that I look forward to every year when I line up to the start line for this race. And it is the feeling I  will be searching for in Sochi as well,” shared Stephen on this special day of her career.

For Diggins her second Tour de Ski was also quite special and she left it all out on the tracks which is the most satisfying way to end any race, let alone the brutal 9-day, 7-stage Tour.

Jessica Diggins (USA) gets her top 15... © Nordic Focus

“The conditions today were really interesting with pouring rain that turned to snow just before the start of the girls race! But the climb is hard and slow going no matter what, so the weather almost doesn’t matter; I know that when I reach the top I’ll be nearly blacked out anyways and in more pain than any other race.

“My strengths are the rollling hills and especially the flat sections, so that’s where I tried to make up the most time. I caught the 4 girls in front of me, but with the exception of Aurore Jean (from France) nobody would take a turn pulling the pack. I didn’t want to hang around playing that game, so I just did most of the work for the section connecting to the base of the climb.

“Then during the climb I just tried to get in a rhythm and keep moving. I am not a great climber, but I definitely gave it everything I had, and I’m proud of that. I didn’t get up the hill the fastest but I didn’t leave anything out there and it feels good to end the tour knowing I did the best I could!

“I am also psyched to have made my goal of a top-15 finish with a 13th place. And I’m especially psyched for Liz with such an awesome Tour – the best any US woman has ever had! Our staff was amazing, working so hard through this whole Tour de Ski, and I’m really proud to be part of this crew,” Diggins wrote by email.

We also caught up with US Women’s Head Coach Matt Whitcomb for his take on the women’s team and final results at the 8th Tour de Ski.

Interview with Matt Whitcomb

Team US keeps racking up the records as another Tour de Ski comes to an end. But for now it’s time for all competitors to kick back and catch their breath until the next start line as the countdown to Sochi begins.

Full results here.
Winner of the day here.
TdS Sprint Overall here.
TdS Overall here.
Prize Money here.