The USA's Jessica Diggins - a World Championship silver medalist in 2015 - has finally won her first individual World Cup.  Diggins beat out 4 Norwegians to take the victory in the ladies' 5 km free technique competitions in Toblach, Italy.  Just 1.5 seconds separated the top three athletes on the podium with Heidi Weng in second +0.9 and Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg +1.5 for third.  Ragnild Haga was fourth just ahead of Therese Johaug in 5th.  The top 5 were all within 10 seconds of each other.  

With her third place finish today, Oestberg keeps the red leaders bib and has extended her overall lead in the Tour to 25.3 seconds over Johaug.  Despite being consistently on the podium this Tour Weng trails the two leaders by 2:27. 5 in third place in the standings.  Finland's Anne Kylloenen and Kerttu Niskanen remain in 4th and 5th place respectively.   

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ATHLETE QUOTES

Jessie Diggins, USA
I’m still in shock. It is crazy, I have not been on a World Cup podium before. It is great for the whole team. I had great skis. It was a fun day for all of us. I love the downhills. I love the course here.

Heidi Weng, NOR
It was a good race. I tried to start slowly and get faster in the downhills. It worked fine for me. 5 km is always difficult.

Ingvild Flugstad Østberg, NOR
It was a tight and hard race. I had maybe too hard opening. I wanted to start fast. I had to fight against myself all the way. In the last uphill my legs were tired. It is amazing I finished again on the podium. It is great to be still in the lead of the Tour de Ski.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS

LADIES - 5 km F 

1. DIGGINS Jessica 1991 USA 13:15.5
2. WENG Heidi 1991 NOR +0.9
3. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad 1990 NOR +1.5
4. HAGA Ragnhild 1991 NOR +8.4
5. JOHAUG Therese 1988 NOR +9.6

Complete results are available HERE. 

OVERALL TOUR RESULTS

1. OESTBERG Ingvild Flugstad NOR 1:37:49.2
2. JOHAUG Therese NOR +25.3 
3. WENG Heidi NOR +2:27.5 
4. KYLLOENEN Anne FIN +5:15.9 
5. NISKANEN Kerttu FIN +5:29.5

Complete overall TOUR standings are available HERE. 

Source: fis-ski.com