Eiduka does not enter the elimination fights in the sprint
Latvian cross-country skiing leader Patrīcija Eidukas took 35th place in the qualification of the fifth stage of the “Tour de Ski” series held in Italy on Saturday, January 3. Although the athlete narrowly missed getting into the knockouts, she continues to participate in the prestigious multi-day competition series. As Latvian Public Media informs, Eiduka covered the 1.6 kilometer distance in four minutes and 1.42 seconds, 1.71 seconds behind the top 30 who qualified for the elimination competition.
Season results and standings
Before this stage, Eiduka was in the 28th position in the Tour de Ski overall. She has shown solid performances in various events, placing 16th in the freestyle sprint, 39th in the 10km individual start, 37th in the 5km freestyle group skiing and 30th in the 20km classic pursuit.
After the fifth stage, Eiduka was ranked 23rd overall in the “Tour de Ski”.
Strong competition and an impending conclusion
Finland’s Jasmi Joensoo won the classic sprint on Saturday, finishing in three minutes and 46.21 seconds. She was also undefeated in the final, winning with a time of 3:45.75. The Swiss Nadine Fendrich took the second place, while the Swedish Juhanna Hagström finished third. The tour’s overall leader, American Jessie Diggins, stopped in the semifinals at this stage.
The Tour de Ski series concluded on Sunday, January 4, in Valdifème, Italy, with a distance of ten kilometers where most of the course was uphill.
Latvian skiing achievements and the history of “Tour de Ski”.
In previous seasons, Patricija Eydukas has achieved the best results of her career. The highest achievement in the history of Latvian skiing was repeated in 2024, when Eiduka took eighth place overall at the end of the “Tour de Ski”, but won fifth place in the last stage.
The “Tour de Ski” series, which takes its inspiration from the famous bicycle race “Tour de France”, is one of the most prestigious cross-country skiing events in the world. It consists of several stages at different locations, and the winner is determined by total time and bonus seconds.
