The tour de ski is one of the coolest events in elite cross-country skiing, in my opinion. With as many as 9 races in 11 days, it can be the most physically demanding endeavors in which any of us participate. This year (with participation and the Olympics in mind) FIS shortened it to 6 races in 8 days, which is still super hard. 3 distance races, 2 sprints, and 1 hill climb will take it out of you no matter how fit you are.

Even knowing this, I entered the tour feeling pretty rough from a cold that I got over Christmas, and hoped to take the first stages in Lenzerheide “easy”, with the idea that I’d be better and feeling rested by the later stages of the tour. I really only did this because I felt like I needed some more distance point to stay in the top 50 for making the Olympic team. In hindsight, I probably would’ve been safe without racing the tour, but these decisions are not easy to make because you never know which direction your shape will go. I ended up actually feeling alright in Oberstdorf (stage 3), but had one of the worst races in my last 2 seasons in Val di Fiemme. That was especially a bummer because of getting 8th in the exact same race there last year. Moral of the story is that you should react to how your body feels, instead of trying to make something happen.

Now I’m going to Seefeld, Austria to try to fully kick my illness and feel strong again. I’m confident I can get back to feeling like I have before!

Beautiful hotel in Lenzerheide (actually a school where they teach hospitality: cooking, hotel maintenance, etc)

I was only going for walks in the days before the tour in an effort to get healthy. Didn’t see the course until race day.

Damage control racing…just trying to get to Oberstdorf

Super pretty venue feat. interval start track for stage 2

Cooling down, topping off the stores with some Never2 sugar

Pre-race gel. Felt alright stage 2 but still wanted to not fully drain myself in an effort to bounce back later in the tour.

15k skate mass start (stage 3). Felt solid today, but still din’t have my usual energy in the last lap.

One of the coolest world cup venues. 2026 Olympics are here!

Zak talking out a tough race with his boys

I dropped out after feeling really bad in stage 5, so I got to watch both the men’s and women’s races!! Jessie showing how hard the finish to the tour is

Day after the finish just going for a walk. I’m gassed!

Stoked to chill now and turn it around. And very proud of the whole team, staff and servicemen and all! Everyone worked so hard to make it happen, and I can’t thank you enough.

Thanks for reading!