Diggins Claims Her 73 World Cup Podium, Schumacher Fifth in Thrilling Day in Lillehammer
On the third and final day of racing in Lillehammer, Norway, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team recorded career-best performances. The grueling 20k skiathlon event, featuring a 10k classic leg followed by a 10k skate leg, was on tap today. Jessie Diggins claimed her 73rd World Cup podium with a third-place result, followed by Gus Schumacher in fifth, skiing to his career-best mass start and skiathlon result. The theme today? Career best skiathlon results, fast skis, and team camaraderie.
The skiathlon is a rare event on the World Cup circuit, testing athletes' abilities in both techniques on Lillehammer’s challenging seven-lap course. Fatigue was beginning to set in after three days of straight racing but the U.S. team put together strong performances, landing six (three men, three women) within the top 30.
Schumacher Leads U.S. Men with Career-Best Skiathlon Result
Schumacher delivered a career-defining performance, securing fifth place in the men’s race. Starting strong in the classic portion, Schumacher stayed within the top 10 throughout the seven-lap race, positioning himself as a podium contender. This marked a massive leap from his previous best skiathlon finishes—18th in Lahti and 32nd in Trondheim—and his highest-ever result in a mass start.
"I was feeling like I was skiing pretty well, I obviously knew I was pretty close to the front.. so in the final moments, I wasn't thinking very much, I just knew the speed was still high, so I had to trust myself," said Schumacher. "Mostly, it was just exciting to be that close."
The Norwegian men's team, led by Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, Simen Hegstad Krüger and Harald Oestberg Amundsen, dominated the race. Yet, in a nail-biting finish, Schumacher out-sprinted several competitors to become the first non-Norwegian to cross the line, finishing just seconds behind the leaders and within one second of the finish.
Fresh off his career-best result last weekend in Ruka, Zanden McMullen also delivered a strong performance, finishing 26th in the career-best skiathlon result for the young athlete. Following his standout skate sprint qualification win earlier just yesterday, Ben Ogden placed 25th for his career-best skiathlon result, rounding out a solid day for the men’s team.
"I'm mostly proud of Gus," said Ogden. "He’s just proving himself to be rock solid in these 20ks which is not an easy feat. You have to be extremely fit to do what he is doing and it's really cool to see his dedication and patience paying off in a big way. He’ll be back on top soon, mark my words."
Amundsen ultimately won the day, with Norway's Jan Thomas Jenssen in second and Martin Loewstroem Nyenget in third, respectively. For the U.S., Schumacher was fifth, Ogden 25th, McMullen 26th, Hunter Wonders 46th, and John Steel Hagenbuch 57th.
With his fifth-place result, Schumacher secures his top 10 in the World Cup distance standings.
Diggins Claims 73rd Career World Cup Podium
In the women’s race, Jessie Diggins continued her podium streak, earning her 73rd World Cup podium with a third-place finish. Diggins skied a smart and steady race, staying with the lead pack through the classic portion, which Norway’s Therese Johaug largely controlled.
Johaug surged ahead in the skate portion, establishing an insurmountable lead. At the same time, Diggins held her own in the chase group alongside Sweden’s Ebba Andersson and Norway’s Astrid Slind and Heidi Weng.
In the final kilometers, following a grueling uphill, it was all downhill into the stadium. With the course lined with fans from around the world, Diggins put on a masterclass in how to finish a mass start race—draft, look for the best chance to make a move and make it. She ultimately crossed the line in third, securing her second podium of the 2024-25 season, 73rd in her career and the chance to wear the FIS overall World Cup yellow bib for another day.
Sophia Laukli had a breakout performance, hammering into 11th place—her best skiathlon finish yet and second top-11 of the season. Julia Kern of the U.S. team also had her season's best performance, crossing the line in 20th. Kern and Laukli were seen working together in the chase pack for the majority of the race and crossed the line with career bests in the process.
"I’ve become more and more confident in my racing which I’m realizing is really starting to pay off in my results," said Laukli, post race. "I had no idea if I would blow up because I was going so hard—that was the deepest i've ever dug—but I think that’s what I feel proud about that I just committed and hoped going all out would pay off, which it did."
Diggins claimed third, Norway's Weng was second, and Johaug was first. Outside of the top 30, U.S. athlete Alayna Sonnesyn finished 43rd; Rosie Brennan did not start today's race.
By the Numbers
The Lillehammer Skiathlon showcased career-best performances across the board for U.S. athletes:
- Schumacher: Fifth place, career-best skiathlon and mass start result.
- Diggins: 73rd World Cup podium; maintains the overall World Cup leader bib.
- Laukli: 11th place, career-best skiathlon finish.
- McMullen: career-best skiathlon finish.
- Kern: career-best skiathlon finish.
Next up, the team travels to Davos, Switzerland, for a set of three races next weekend.
