Val di Fiemme, Italy – Kikkan Randall and Liz Stephen combined to place two Americans in the top 15 as the seven-stage Tour de Ski came to a close on the staggering climb up the Alpe Cermis in Val di Fiemme on Sunday.

Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk needed all of her two minute-plus lead as she took a 27-second win over a hard charging Therese Johaug of Norway who chopped off a minute, 40 seconds. Russian Alex Legkov took the men’s Tour title over defending champion Dario Cologna. Kris Freeman, of Andover, N.H., led the U.S. men in 44^th with Tour rookie Noah Hoffman, of Aspen, Colo., 46^th.

It was an impressive performance by Stephen, of East Montpelier, Vt., who was second fastest up the climb, and jumped from 22^nd to 15^th for a career best Tour finish. Randall, of Anchorage, Alaska, who was tenth a year ago, dropped from seventh to 12^th despite winning two Tour stages.

“I am still really satisfied with my Tour as a whole. To win two stages was amazing and I was really psyched with both of those performances,” said Randall. “I had a couple solid classic races as well and to finish second in the sprint standings is a nice bonus.”

Tour rookie Jessie Diggins, of Afton, Minn., moved up to 21^st for an impressive first year showing.

The FIS Cross Country World Cup now heads to Liberec, Czech Republic for a sprint weekend. The athletes will return to Val di Fiemme in mid-February for World Championships. Randall will take a weeklong break from the World Cup for recovery, skipping the sprint races in Liberec to rest and train in France, returning to the World Cup the following weekend in La Clusaz.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Cross Country World Cup
Tour de Ski – Val di Fiemme, Italy – Dec. 6, 2013
9km Freestyle Pursuit

Women

Men