Ben Ogden Secures Historic Silver at Tour de Ski Classic Sprint

Ben Ogden, 25, secured a silver medal in the classic-style sprint event at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme, Italy, as part of the Tour de Ski. This achievement marks the first time a U.S. male skier has reached the podium in a major international cross-country competition since Bill Koch's silver medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics.

Ogden's Stellar Performance

Ogden finished second in the classic-style sprint competition. He completed the race in three minutes and 40 seconds, narrowly missing gold. Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway won the gold medal with a time of three minutes and 39 seconds. Oskar Opstad Vike of Norway earned the bronze medal, placing third in his international debut.

"Ogden's silver medal is the first podium finish for a U.S. male skier in a major international cross-country competition in over four decades."

Race Progression

The competition structure included a qualification round, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final heat featuring six skiers. Ogden qualified with the second-fastest time among all competitors, demonstrating his strong form from the outset.

Throughout the heats, Ogden advanced through strong performances, which included accelerating on an incline during one heat. In the semifinals, Ogden competed with Lauri Vuorinen of Finland for second place, with Vuorinen winning in a photo finish. Ogden subsequently advanced to the finals as the fastest "lucky loser," showcasing his consistent speed and ability to compete at the highest level. The gold medalist, Klaebo, was noted for employing an energy-saving strategy during the quarterfinals.

Historical Context for U.S. Men's Cross-Country Skiing

Ogden's silver medal represents a notable achievement for U.S. men's cross-country skiing. The accomplishment draws significant comparisons to Bill Koch, also from Vermont, who won a silver medal at the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Games in the 50k classic event. The connection runs deeper as Ogden participated in the Bill Koch Youth Ski League during his youth and has previously skied with Koch.

"This accomplishment draws comparisons to Bill Koch's 1976 Olympic silver, signifying a pivotal moment for U.S. men's cross-country skiing."

Other U.S. Skiers' Results

Three American men qualified for the sprint classic, including JC Schoonmaker, who also advanced to the finals of the event. In related women's classic sprint races, Julia Kern, another U.S. racer, reached the finals and finished in sixth place. Jessie Diggins, also representing the U.S., did not advance in her respective classic sprint races.