Krista Pärmäkoski (FIN) defended the overall podium on the final ski of the Tour de Ski. And she did it in an impressive way: She finished 14 seconds from second place and posted the second fastest time for the brutal stage up the alpine hill in Val di Fiemme (ITA).
The last stage of the Tour de Ski is a 9-kilometer pursuit that concludes with a 420-meter elevation gain in just over three kilometers.
“It was close. I tried my best, but I was pretty cooked at the end. But if the race were just a little longer, I think I would have caught the Russian. It was close, and I’m happy with my effort,” Pärmäkoski said after the finish.
The Finnish Tour de Ski veteran started the final stage in third place; two minutes and 13 seconds behind Ingvild Flugstad Østberg (NOR) in first place and one minute and 20 seconds behind Natalia Nepriajeva (RUS). Pärmäkoski
This was Pärmäkoski ‘s ninth Tour de Ski. She first entered the stage race in 2011, finishing sixth. Since then, she has posted two overall Tour de Ski podiums including this year’s third place. In 2017 she was second overall. Additionally, Pärmäkoski was fourth three times (2018, 2014 and 2013).
Additionally, Heidi Weng (NOR) who won the stage race both last year and in 2017, was sixth overall after a solid effort on the final stage.
