Cross-country ski G.O.A.T Johannes Høsflot Klæbo flaunted his versatility by claiming a record-setting fifth Tour de Ski crown in Val di Fiemme, Italy, on Sunday (4 January).
The five-time Olympic champion is now the most successful skier of the six-day stage race, after he matched Dario Cologna’s record of four overall victories a year ago.
Klaebo won four of the six stages in the men’s event at the 2025-26 edition, building a one-minute and 23-second cushion into the deciding mass start 10km freestyle race, which proved consequential.
At the start of the climb, just over three kilometres from the finish, Klæbo was still in control with no one challenging the Norwegian at this point.
The gruelling climb on the Alpe Cermis provided for a dramatic conclusion to the race with Klæbo’s advantage melting over the final kilometre.
Klæbo started the final stage with a one-minute, 23.17-second lead over compatriot Mattis Stenshagen in second place.
With each painful stride, Stenshagen started to chip away at Klæbo’s lead, cutting it in half as they approached the peak.
Stenshagen prevailed, collapsing onto the snow in first place in 33:25.5, but his valiant effort was not enough to usurp Klæbo of his overall Tour de Ski crown.
Klæbo finished the stage in 12th place, crossing the finish nearly a minute behind Stenshagen.
Jules Lapierre of France finished the stage in second place, timing 33:32.1, with Emil Iversen taking third in 33:45.9.
Klæbo bowed out of this year’s race with a 30-second winning margin over Stenshagen in second place, with Harald Oestberg Amundsen rounding out the all-Norwegian podium.
The women’s finale follows later on Sunday.
