American cross-country skier Jessie Diggins won the 20km pursuit of the Tour de Ski circuit in Toblach (Italy), part of the Cross-Country World Cup.
Jessie Diggins achieved a completely decisive success, after already in the first five kilometers she managed to open a gap of 40 sec to her pursuers. Jessie Diggins triumphed with a time of 58:18.7 min and left 46.5 seconds behind Victoria Carl (Germany), who placed second. Linn Svahn (Sweden) finished third, ahead of her compatriot Jonna Sundling with a photo finish.
Linn Svahn and Victoria Carl had a lead of over half a minute over their pursuers for a long time, but allowed themselves to be overtaken. However, on the final straight the two found the strength to attack and thus took the remaining two places on the podium. The Norwegians Astrid Oyre Slind and Heidi Weng also entered the six.
After the first three starts in Tolbach in the Tour de Ski, Jessie Diggins leads by 47 seconds over Victoria Carl and by 48 over Linn Svahn and Jonna Sundling.
In the standings for the World Cup, Jessie Diggins is again first with 943 points. In second place with 828 points is Emma Ribom (Sweden), and in third place with 787 points is American Rosie Brennan.
In the ranking in the distance disciplines, Jessie Diggins is again first with 655 points, but her lead over the second Ebba Andersson from Sweden is only 29 points. Victoria Carl is third with 596 points.
The next two starts of the Tour de Ski are on Wednesday and Thursday in Davos. The Swiss winter center will host the freestyle sprint and the 20km classic pursuit. Traditionally, the Tour de Ski will end in Val di Fiema (Italy) with a mass start of 15km classic style on January 6, and a day later the ascent of Alpe Chermis.