Liz Stephen 3rd in hill climb, 7th overall in Tour de Ski

VAL DI FIEMME, Italy (Jan. 5) – Liz Stephen (E. Montpelier, VT) posted the USA's best overall Tour de Ski finish in history with seventh, skiing to the third-fastest time of the day as she battled rain, sleet and snow for 9k up Alpe Cermis on Sunday. Noah Hoffman (Aspen, CO) also earned the best ever finish for U.S. men in 25th. World Champion Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN) finished a career best Tour 13th, while Therese Johaug led a Norwegian sweep for the women. World Cup Champion Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) will rejoin the team next weekend for World Cup sprints at Nove Mesto in the Czech Republic.

Jessie Diggins and Liz Stephen in the finish Sunday in Val di Fiemme, Italy after Stephen posted the USA's best overall Tour de Ski finish in history with seventh, skiing to the third-fastest time of the day up the 9k Alpe Cermis hill climb finale. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom/Vianney Thibaut)

HIGHLIGHTS

Liz Stephen (E. Montpelier, VT) posted the USA's best overall Tour de Ski finish in history with seventh, skiing to the third-fastest time of the day as she battled rain, sleet and snow for 9k up Alpe Cermis on Sunday. Stephen took the second-fastest time last year, finishing 15th. See below for a breakdown of past USA Tour results.
World Champion Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN) finished a career best Tour 13th in the tour finale.
Therese Johaug took the first ever women’s Tour victory for Norway, while also leading a Norwegian sweep with Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen and Heidi Weng.
Noah Hoffman (Aspen, CO) took the best ever finish for U.S. men in 25th, while Norwegians Martin Johnsrud Sundby and Chris Jespersen went one-two.
Athletes charged through rain in the start, sleet at the base of the climb and very heavy snow on the climb, which all led to slower than usual times.
The seven-stage Tour de Ski featured a grueling nine-day schedule in different venues across Germany, Switzerland and Italy and culminated with Sunday’s steep 9k hill climb finale up Alpe Cermis, rising over 1,600 vertical feet (495m).
Sunday’s race was seeded by Tour standings, so the race results are overall Tour results.
Universal Sports will broadcast coverage of the Tour finale Sunday night at 7 p.m. EST.
World Cup Champion Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) will rejoin the team next weekend for World Cup sprints at Nove Mesto in the Czech Republic.

Women’s Tour de Ski Results:
2014
7 – Liz Stephen
13 – Jessie Diggins

2013
12 – Kikkan Randall
15 – Liz Stephen
21 - Jessie Diggins

2012
10 – Kikkan Randall
24 – Liz Stephen
39 – Holly Brooks

2011
21 – Kikkan Randall

Men’s Tour de Ski Results:
2014
25 – Noah Hoffman

2013
44 – Kris Freeman
46 – Noah Hoffman

2012
43 – Kris Freeman

2011
28 – Kris Freeman

RACE/OVERALL TOUR RESULTS
Official Men’s Results
Official Women’s Results

Liz Stephen 3rd in hill climb, 7th overall in Tour de Ski

Tour de Ski

Sun, Jan 5, 2014 - By USSA