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The first thing viewers might have wondered going into today’s race was, “Is this the same World Cup I’ve been watching all season? Where are all the racers?” With 59 women starting the race, the start list featured some familiar names alongside many new ones on the international scene. Top Swedish and Norwegian competitors were absent today, a shift that opened up opportunities for athletes who don’t usually compete at the World Cup level to attend the Cogne competitions. For these teams, only Maja Dahlqvist (SWE), Astrid Oeyre Slind (NOR), and Lotta Udnes Weng (NOR) remained on the World Cup circuit, as their teammates took a step back to focus on training and preparation for the World Championships later this month.

Missing six of the top ten skiers in the overall World Cup rankings left the field sparse at the top, a fact clearly reflected in the results. Slind and Diggins—the leaders in the distance and overall standings, respectively—started later in the field and skied their own race out front. They finished more than 15 seconds ahead of the rest of the competitors and over a minute separated the top-10 positions.

Australian Rosie Fordham described the Cogne course as “grindy,” with extended climbs that forced racers to keep their heads down and work hard around the entire course. The winding downhills left no room for rest, favoring skiers with strong endurance, technical descent skills, and the determination to push to their limits. Sound familiar? It was the perfect course for American Jessie Diggins, who skied to a commanding victory, putting seconds on the field and collapsing across the finish line.
Diggins dominated the race from the beginning, coming through all the checkpoints with a lead. Having had an exciting day, she shared “This was so fun, the crowds were amazing. I’m really, really grateful for the cheering; this was super cool.” Her victory was not just a personal triumph—it was a significant win for Team USA. “I really couldn’t have asked for more,” she added. “The skis were perfect and it was a huge win for my team. I just wanted to go really, really hard, and I’m glad I didn’t get too hot out there in the sun.”
For the Americans, Kate Oldham earned a 16th place finish, and Kendall Kramer an 18th place finish. Julia Kern did not start the competition. On the Canadian team, Katherine Stewart-Jones finished 23rd, Liliane Gagnon finished 27th, and Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt finished 43rd.

Women’s 10 k Freestyle
With crispy tracks and stunning views over the Cogne Valley, conditions were ideal for a perfect race day. Spectators were poised to witness the much-anticipated battle between Diggins and Slind, two formidable competitors in freestyle middle-distance events. With their dominance solidified after strong performances this season, the top two podium positions were, in many ways, determined from the very start of the day.
Meanwhile, in the battle for third, no clear favorite emerged. Flora Dolci (FRA), Krista Parmakoski (FIN), and Kerttu Niskanen (FIN)—all of whom have secured multiple top-10 finishes in freestyle distance competitions this season—were expected to contend for the top results. Katerina Janatova (CZE), having enjoyed a strong season herself, was also expected to contend for a top-10 result, especially in light of absences by top competitors this weekend.

Faehndrich Takes Early Splits
An individual start race often provides opportunities for skiers who begin earlier to gain the spotlight. In these events, the fastest competitors typically start last, allowing younger or lower-ranked racers who start first to lead in early checkpoint rankings, finish the race first, claim the leader’s chair, and enjoy time in the limelight. Nadine Faehndrich, a strong skier from Switzerland, was scheduled to start unusually early and dominated nearly all the checkpoints as she passed through. Her name kept coming up first—only to be overtaken shortly after by Diggins and Slind. She ultimately finished the race in 6th, a strong result for her.

Diggins Versus Slind
Diggins and Slind continued their storied rivalry today—a duel that has defined this season as both athletes traded places at the top of the overall and distance World Cup standings.
Starting a few minutes ahead of Diggins, Slind consistently dominated the checkpoint standings. Her early performance allowed her to build a steady and significant lead over competitors such as Faehndrich, who, despite strong efforts, found herself trailing behind Slind’s pace.

Almost immediately after the start, Diggins began building her own gap over the field. Within the first 1.2 kilometers, she gained a 4-second advantage. By the 2.1-kilometer mark, her lead had expanded to 5 seconds—a gap she maintained for the rest of the race. Crossing the line with a smile on her face, Diggins continued the dominant season she has had, and feels confident in her preparation for the World Championships in just a few weeks.
Women’s 10 k Freestyle Results

