International Flair at Tour de Ski—Amundsen, Moch, Lapalus

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The origin story of the Tour de Ski suggests that it was invented to mirror cycling’s Tour de France: multiple stages, mountaintop finishes, leader’s jerseys, thrilling competitions, glorious champions. Today’s Stage 7 of the Tour de Ski—with its finish on the high summit of Alpe Cermis— is probably what the original race organizers had in mind. Helicopters hovered over the point-to-point course that wound its way through historic ski-venues in the Val di Fiemme. At the 2.4 kilometer mark, the still-flat course wound into the stadium of Val-d’Isére (where the first Bonus Sprint in the Alpe Cermis stage would be decided). Then, following the course of the Marcia Longa—Italy’s famous ski marathon—the course traveled to the base of the Alpe Cermis Alpine resort.

The day had begun with Amundsen holding a considerable lead in the overall standings over his countryman, Erik Valnes. Known as a good all-rounder—but really more of a sprinter—Valnes would face considerable challenges to his desire to remain on the Tour de Ski podium, as he was trailed in the standings by other skiers whose pedigrees spoke of greater climbing abilities. Martin Loewstroem Nyenget (NOR) sat only eight seconds behind Valnes, with talented climbers, Hugo Lapalus (FRA) and Friedrich Moch (GER) only another few seconds behind. The battle for podium spots would be furious and painful, with rewards and accolades for those brave enough to climb into the clouds. Valnes would have his hands full . . .

Stage 7, Alpe Cermis

Bonus Points Leader, Lucas Chanavat (FRA), toed the starting line after a number of less-than-stellar stages in which he would win sprint points, then ease along the course to the finish well out of contention. In the early kilometers of the Alpe Cermis stage, Chanavat led the pack toward the first Bonus Points sprint at 2.4 kilometers, hoping to secure his hold on the Points Jersey before the real climb of the day would begin. Though nipped at the line by sprint-rival, Edvin Anger (SWE), Chanavat would collect enough points to secure the victory in the points competition. Ironically, he would be required to finish the stage at the top of Alpe Cermis’ long climb in order to claim the distinction, and to collect the winner’s spoils. It would be a long day of climbing for the sprinter, Chanavat.

After the Points Bonus sprint, it was the skier sitting in 26th place overall—Haavard Solaas Taugboel (NOR)—who went to the front to make pace. Commentators speculated on the possibility that Team Norway was tactically using lower-placed skiers to protect the lead of Amundsen, Valnes, and Nyenget. There was one last Points sprint at 6.8 kilometers (at the base of the climb), but by that time Amundsen had already gone to the front. He took the points that Chanavat and Anger coveted, seemingly determined to begin the climb in earnest. Final standings in the Points competition: Chanavat, Anger, Valnes, Amundsen, and Antoine Cyr (CAN).

Amundsen led the field on the lower slopes of the climb, though with no real sense of urgency. In season’s past, much of the low part of the climb was defined by athletes propelling themselves via V2, maintaining that faster, more costly technique for as long as they could in attempts to break the field. Typically the last skier using the V2 was the one who would create gaps in the field and put themselves in position to win the day. Today, however, Amundsen dropped into the V1 early on, allowing a group of rivals to remain on his heels. That group settled into a lead pack of seven:  Amundsen, Nyenget, Friedrich Moch (GER), Mika Vermuelen (AUT), Jules Lapierre (FRA), Hugo Lapalus (FRA), and Beda Klee (SUI). Valnes was nowhere to be seen. The battle for podium positions began . . .

And the course steepened: 26.5 percent (that’s steep). Klee was dropped: lead group reduced to six.

Mika Vermeulen powered to the front as Amundsen and Nyenget faded to the rear of the lead group. By this time, Valnes had already ceded his second place position to Nyenget in the virtual Tour standings. Other podium contenders pushed to the front, fighting it out for podium places, mostly at the expense of Amundsen and a visibly-tiring Nyenget who dangled just off the back.

With every change in pitch, a different contender would appear at the front. Finally, Moch took the lead as the group entered the tightest switchbacks, driving around each direction-change with Lapierre hard on his heels. Next in line—head down, but tempo high—Lapalus followed his countryman while Amundsen and Vermeulen settled in. Nyenget was gapped: lead group reduced to five.

Moch and Lapierre ratcheted up the pace. Little bit by little bit, gaps opened behind them.  Lapalus watched his own ski tips, Amundsen (overall victory already in sight) marked the gaps, Vermeulen atttempted damage control: lead group reduced to two.

Farther down the mountain, Valnes struggled; his podium position all but gone as his rivals for the podium—Lapalus and Moch—drove forward.

Moch and Lapierre continue to show spark in their steps as they entered another 28 percent grade (murderous!). In their wake, Lapalus powered on alone (eyes still down). Amundsen and Vermeulen appeared bound to one another in their fatigue (battling to hold their positions rather than determined to drive forward). Nyenget suffered alone in no-man’s land, while resurgent Klee and Jens Burman (SWE) gave chase. Somewhere farther down the mountain, Valnes toiled in obscurity.

The Alpe Cermis levels a bit in the final kilometer, requiring racers to shift gears, yet again. It’s a point where a different set of athletic/physiological abilities comes into play. Thirty minutes into the race, Moch and Lapierre exited the steepest sections of the climb, both breaking into a V2 skate as the horizon leveled. Lapierre drove forward into the lead, his tempo visibly quicker than Moch’s. Behind them (across an ever-widening gap) Lapalus stayed with the V1 in attempts to save energy, just in case he still had to deal with a charging (V2) Amundsen who seemed to have recovered some energy after his mid-climb lull.

At the finish, it was Lapierre sprinting clear of Moch, both of whom celebrated as they crossed the line. Moch knew he had skied onto the overall podium, a first for Germany since Tobias Angerer, overall winner of the first Tour de Ski in 2006/2007, finished third in the 2008/2009 tour. Lapalus finished 16 seconds behind the winner, securing his own place on the overall podium by sufficiently gapping Nyenget.

The winner of the overall Tour de Ski—Amundsen—arrived fifteen seconds after Lapalus. Amundsen had done his job, and the biggest prize of the FIS World Cup season was his.

Valnes finished 11^th, 1:13.9 behind. All things considered, Valnes (known more for his sprinting prowess) delivered a truly impressive performance, and that in an event where careless or unfit competitors can “blow” and lose big chunks of time. Even so, he proved unable to keep pace with the climbers, and dropped from the podium into sixth overall.

Among North American finishers, Antoine Cyr (CAN) climbed the fastest: 14^th place, 1:34.2 behind the winner. Following him were Zanden McMullen (USA) 36^th, Scott Patterson (USA) 42^nd, and Olivier Leveille (CAN) 45^th.

Much much later, at the hard-won summit of Alpe Cermis, Chanavat crossed the line to claim the Points Championship. It’s unlikely that he’s ever skied so far or so high.

Alpe Cermis Stage 7 RESULTS

2024 Tour de Ski OVERALL RESULTS