The Tour de Ski was not in the plans when Therese Johaug announced that she would make a comeback this season. The focus would be on competing sparingly to recharge before the big goal: the WC on home soil.
But that was not the case.
Johaug changed his mind and competed in the Tour de Ski. And now she has written history. The 36-year-old took home the entire tour – which she has now won four times. In doing so, she ties the Polish Justyna Kowalczyk, who has also won four times.
If I had said six months ago that you would be standing here as the Tour de Ski winner again, what would you have said?
– Then I wouldn’t have believed you, laughs Johaug.
In the video above, the Norwegian explains why she changed her mind and decided to run the tour.
As usual, the tour ended with the climb up the slalom hill Alpe Cermis. There, Johaug showed his class and dominated greatly. She won the final stage in superior style, securing overall victory by a wide margin and a Norwegian flag in hand.
Ebba Andersson was the best Swede in fifth place, sixth overall.
Behind Johaug in the overall, Astrid Öyre Slind, Norway, finished second and Jessie Diggins, USA, third.