Updated 13.59 | Published 13.25
Third on New Year’s Eve, second on New Year’s Day in the pursuit start in the Tour de Ski. Moa Ilar continues to impress in the World Cup in skiing.
– The saving grace today was that I had such good skis, says Ilar to Viaplay.
Second place in Toblach was Moa Ilar’s fifth World Cup podium this winter, following third place in the five kilometer race on Wednesday, and she remains second to American Jessie Diggins in the overall World Cup standings.
– It’s absolutely incredible, it’s so fun that it’s going this well. Even if I have a heavier day, it goes a long way, it’s motivating going forward, says Ilar.
Diggins won the pursuit start and leads the Tour de Ski by a large margin. Moa Ilar was 1.35 minutes behind and the Austrian Teresa Stadlober came third after a sprint battle with Ilar. Stadlober joined Ilar early in the race.
– It was terribly hard today, tough from the first pole and all the way to the finish line. I’m glad that Stadlober caught up and I was able to bite in. She had good speed uphill and I had such damn good skis. It was the saving grace today, that I had such good skis, says Ilar.
– It was mentally hard to know that you had to go up the hill five times. I had to struggle from the start. I’m really proud of the race.
Two more Swedish women were in the top ten – Ebba Andersson eighth and Frida Karlsson in tenth place.
Ahead of the Tour de Ski finish in Val di Fiemme, the sprint on Saturday and the climb up the slalom hill on Sunday, Diggins has a 1.36 minute lead over Ilar and Stadlober.
– I just think day by day, because now it’s hard. Sprint is good when the head is tired, says Ilar about the next race in the Tour de Ski.
