In 2018, Dario Cologna entered the Tour de Ski without any real certainties. Hampered by various injuries, Grison has not won for almost 3 years. At 31, he is no longer the dominator he once was but remains capable of shining.
Johannes Klaebo is absent (to rest in view of the Olympic Games), his main opponents are Sergey Ustiugov and Martin Johnsrud Sundby.
On the initial stage of this Tour de Ski, Cologna is certainly not aiming to win but puts in an encouraging performance. An elimination in the quarter-finals which acts as a trigger. The next day, “Super Dario” won for the first time in Switzerland. This is his 22nd victory and certainly one of the most beautiful and significant.
On January 1, 2018, the Val Müstair cross-country skier doubled his stake and took the lead in the ranking. What’s next? A direct path to the coronation without trembling. Two 4th places and a climb to Alpe Cermis in complete control (4th time of the stage). A historic fourth crown which launches him towards an end of the season worthy of his best years.
Frank Rohrbasser
Swiss
