FIS Cross-Country World Cup – Lake Placid, USA
The FIS Cross-Country World Cup Finals closed the season with a finale that felt as tough as it was memorable.
On Friday, heavy snowfall turned the course into a true test, producing one of the slowest 10 km classic races in modern history. It was survival skiing — and up front, it was all about Linn Svahn, who delivered a dominant, composed victory. Then came Johannes Høsflot Klæbo — arriving just one day before racing after his concussion in Drammen. He skipped the sprints, focused on the two distance races of the weekend, and secured his first Distance Crystal Globe in style.
Saturday’s skate sprints brought a different feel — even glimpses of sun — while the crowd energy remained electric. The results were just as decisive: Svahn was untouchable once again, and Federico Pellegrino delivered a magical victory in the final sprint race of his career.
Sunday’s 20 km mass start skate turned cold and rainy — a fittingly hard finale. Klæbo led from the front to cap off a historic season — a true GOAT— while Jonna Sundling closed her season with one last win. But at the center of it all was Jessie Diggins and her farewell. Three Crystal Globes in a row. Four in total. Her final race, at home. Thank you, Jessie.
