Stupak challenges Diggins for Tour de Ski top ranking
Jan 06, 2021·Cross-Country
After the 5th stage of the Tour de Ski and the 10km C Pursuit in Toblach, the cards are still open in the womens Tour standing. Yulia Stupak (RUS) and Ebba Andersson (SWE) challenged current Tour leader Jessie Diggins (USA).
With a margin of 15 seconds, Jessie Diggins started into the race before Rosie Brennan, Ebba Andersson and Yulia Stupak. In the first lap, Diggins managed to stay in the front but as Stupak had taken over the lead in the successor group, soon they caught up with Diggins.
Stupak and Andersson alternated the lead and both used their advantages for keeping the speed high and the racers challenged. In the long uphills, Andersson set the pace and, in the downhills, Stupak and Diggins profited of their skills and fast skis. Halfway into the race, Andersson managed to break away a good 10m off the group but was caught up in the downhill section.
The exciting race was only decided on the final meters where Yulia Stupak launched for the followed by Ebba Andersson and Jessie Diggins.
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