Johaug decided earlier this fall that she would not participate in the Tour de Ski. However, she has recently started to waver, and now she is included in the Norwegian team, announces the Norwegian Ski Association in a press release.
The reason is that she needs to get more competitions in her body – something she herself highlighted after the last World Cup weekend in Davos – ahead of the winter's big goal: the World Championship in Trondheim at the turn of February-March.
The 36-year-old distance queen actually ended her already remarkable career after the 2021-22 season, but chose to make a comeback this year with a focus on the World Championship on home soil.
And she has impressed in her return. Of the five distance races that have been held in the World Cup, Johaug has won two and been on the podium in two more.
Norway is sending a star-studded team to the tour as usual. Both Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Heidi Weng are included. However, sprint specialist Kristine Stavås Skistad and Tiril Udnes Weng, former overall winner of the World Cup, are missing.
The Tour de Ski is being held this season only in Italy. It starts in Toblach on December 28 and ends up the notorious Alpe Cermis in Val di Fiemme on January 5.
Therese Johaug has won the tour three times: 2014, 2016, and 2020.
Ladies: Therese Johaug, Heidi Weng, Astrid Øyre Slind, Kristin Austgulen Fosnæs, Nora Sanness, Silje Theodorsen, Julie Myhre, Helene Marie Fossesholm, Mathilde Skjærdalen Myhrvold, Lotta Udnes Weng.
Men: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, Simen Hegstad Krüger, Jan Thomas Jenssen, Matz William Jenssen, Andreas Fjorden Ree, Harald Østberg Amundsen, Erik Valnes, Even Northug, Iver Tildheim Andersen.
