The 30-year-old Norwegian was one of few racers who were looking forward to the brutal 10-kilometer stage. 

“I like this stage, I like the climb, and I am looking forward to it,” Heidi Weng said prior to the start of the final stage in Val di Fiemme on Tuesday. 

However, liking the stage doesn’t make it less strenuous. Add to that a frenetic mass start format that has everyone scrambling for positions right off the start line. 

“It was a brutal fight for positions today. It’s a whole different race when it’s a mass start compared to a pursuit. I think I prefer the pursuit format,” Weng says after her stage win on Alpe Cermis. 

It is only the third time in the 16-year history of the race that the final stage is a mass start rather than a pursuit. 

Stay in front and out of trouble
Weng’s main focus for the final stage was to stay in front, both to have a good position into the main climb and to avoid crashes. 

“The race was pretty slow all the way to the bottom of the hill. I tried to speed up the pace a bit to stretch out the pack, but the snow was much slower today and it cost a lot more energy than yesterday,” Weng explains. 

Then, from the bottom of the final climb, Weng and Ebba Andersson of Sweden, went to work. The two surged into the hill, and quickly put a gap on the rest of the pack. 

The duo took turns leading until the last half kilometer, where Weng shifted into overdrive and simply parked Andersson. Weng crossed the finish line seven seconds ahead of Andersson. 

“That was fun, especially considering that I didn’t even decide to finish the entire Tour until a few days ago. But now, I’m glad I decided to go for it,” Weng says. 

All you need to know about the final climb Alpe Cermis: Maps, course profiles, statistics and details about the brutal signature stage of the Tour de Ski. 

Top 3, 10km Skate, mass start women
1. Heidi Weng, Norway, 35:41.2
2. Edda Andersson, Sweden, +7.0
3. Delphine Claudel, France, +28.5

Complete results

The stage win on Alpe Cermis also moved Weng up on the podium in the overall Tour de Ski. She started the stage in fifth place, and ended in third. 

No More Races for Heidi Weng
The final stage of the Tour de Ski was the last ski race for Heidi Weng until the Olympics. The 30-year-old now returns to Norway for 10 to 12 days. 

In the middle of January, Weng joins the rest of the Norwegian cross-country skiers who are named to the Olympic team for the pre-Beijing altitude camp. The 2022 Olympics start on February 4. 

The stage win and the overall podium at Tour de Ski was important for Weng heading into the peaking plan for the Olympics in February. 

“It gives me some much needed extra confidence to know that I am up there with the best and should be able to fight for the medals,” Weng says. 

Top 3, Tour de Ski overall, women
1. Natalia Nepryaeva, Russia, 1:59:38.5
2. Edda Andersson, Sweden, 2:00:25.2, +46.7  
3. Heidi Weng, Norway, 2:00:46.2, +1:07.7 

Later this afternoon, the men embark on their 10-kilometer hill climb up Alpe Cermis. Curious about where to watch Tour de Ski in your area? We got you covered! 

The final climb up Alpe Cermis concludes Tour de Ski. Check out how the 16th edition of the traditional stage race unfolded, day by day. 

Stage 1: Sprint Free technique, Lenzerheide, Switzerland
Results, Sprint F, Women
Results, Sprint F, Men

Stage 2: 10km/15km Classic – individual start, Lenzerheide, Switzerland
Results, 10km Classic – individual start, Women
Results, 15km Classic – individual start, Men

Stage 3: 10km/15km Free technique – mass start, Oberstdorf, Germany
Results, 10km Free technique – mass start, Women
Results, 15km Free technique – mass start, Men

Stage 4: Classic Sprint, Oberstdorf, Germany
Results, Sprint CL, Women
Results, Sprint CL, Men

Stage 5: 10km/15km Classic – mass start, Val di Fiemme, Italy
Results, 10km Classic – mass start, Women
Results, 15km Classic – mass start, Men

FACTS: Tour de Ski 2021/22 

• Tour de Ski 2021/22 started in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, on December 28 and concluded in Val di Fiemme, Italy, on January 4. 
• The race consisted of six stages in eight days. 
• Tour de Ski 2021/22 is the 16th edition of the brutal stage race. These are the winners from the previous 15 Tour de Ski events. 
• The overall winners get 400 World Cup points for the Tour de Ski, which consists of six stages in eight days. Stage winners get 50 World Cup points. Accordingly, there are potentially 700 World Cup points for winning every stage of the Tour de Ski, which would determine the overall World Cup for the season.