Gus Schumacher of the United States leads the group on his way to win the men’s 5Km mass start freestyle race part of the Tour de Ski cross-country competition, in Dobbiaco, Northern Italy, Wednesday, Dec.31, 2025. (AP Photo/Newspower/Mario Facchini via AP)
American cross-country skiers made history Wednesday as Gus Schumacher and Jessie Diggins won World Cup events in Toblach, Italy.
The sweep marked the first time an American man and an American woman claimed World Cup victories on the same day in the same event.
The race, a 5k mass start, was the third stage of the Tour de Ski, a series of six races run over eight days.
It was the second World Cup win of Schumacher’s career. In February 2024, the Anchorage skier became the first American male in more than 40 years to win a World Cup distance event.
“I think this is a distance that suits me,” Schumacher said in a release from the Stifel U.S. Ski Team. “It was so fast, so fun, and my group was working together really well, which made it fun.”
The race was in a new format, including four heats and the final results determined purely by time.
From left, second placed Benjamin Moser from Austria, winner Gus Schumacher of the United States and Lard Heggen of Norway celebrate on the podium of the men’s 5Km mass start freestyle race part of the Tour de Ski cross-country competition, in Dobbiaco, Northern Italy, Wednesday, Dec.31, 2025. (AP Photo/Newspower/Mario Facchini via AP)
“The other guys and I talked about our strategy before the race, and truly, I was impressed by how responsive they all were,” Schumacher said. “The goal was to make the whole heat a lot faster by how hard we went out — and it worked.”
The win for Minnesota skier Diggins was her 31st career World Cup victory and 84th career podium.
“Huge congratulations to all of the wax techs,” Diggins said in a release. “Today’s win was a huge part thanks to them.” She also shared in the significance of the moment on the men’s side. “I am also so proud of Gus and so excited for him. He works so hard and really deserves this.”
American Julia Kern finished 10th, Ben Ogden placed 20th and Alaska skier JC Schoonmaker finished 29th.
The Tour de Ski continues Thursday with the fourth stage — the 20k pursuit.