Katherine Stewart-Jones Ends 2024 With Career-Best Fourth Place
Toblach, Italy – Chelsea, Que.’s Katherine Stewart-Jones delivered a standout performance in Stage 3 of the Tour de Ski, tying for fourth place in the 20-kilometre interval start free race.
“To some people, it might seem like this result came out of nowhere,” said Stewart-Jones after the race. “But for me, I felt as good as I did two seasons ago. I’ve had some bad luck, and it was really frustrating. I knew things would eventually come together—I just had to be patient.”
From illness last season to pole breaks, binding malfunctions and crashes this season, Stewart-Jones had faced numerous setbacks, often coming close to the top 10 but never finishing higher than 18th in the last two seasons.
“I think there’s always an element of luck in racing, and luck hasn’t been on my side. Today, though, it felt like everything—luck, fitness and mental focus—came together. It’s been a long time coming, and I’m really stoked.”
Athletes in the interval start format begin 30 seconds apart. Norway’s Astrid Øyre Slind, started just behind Stewart-Jones and quickly became a key part of the race dynamics.
“Once Slind caught up to me, I just kept telling myself not to lose contact,” said Stewart-Jones. “I knew skiing alone would be much more difficult, so staying with her became my main focus.”
Slind ultimately claimed victory, crossing the finish line in 48:54. Fellow Norwegian Therese Johaug finished 3.3 seconds behind, with Finland’s Kerttu Niskanen 20.3 seconds back.
Stewart-Jones stayed with Slind until the finish, clocking in at 49:22 and tying with Germany’s Victoria Carl. Just 7.5 seconds off the podium, this result cements Stewart-Jones as a serious
Katherine Stewart-Jones celebrates with the Canadian World Cup staff after in Toblach, Italy.
contender on the World Cup circuit.
“When I crossed the finish line, I didn’t even check the results. I knew I was in the top 10, but it wasn’t until I saw my team’s reaction that I realized how good it was.”
“I saw their faces and was like, okay, it must have been really good, and I still can’t really believe it.”
The last time a Canadian woman placed in the top four of a World Cup race was in 2011, when Chandra Crawford earned a second-place finish in Rogla, Slovenia.
Stewart-Jones now sits 19th in the Tour de Ski standings, 3 minutes and 36 seconds behind the leader. The seven-stage event, much like the Tour de France, combines results from each stage to determine the overall standings.
“My goal at the start of the tour was to finish in the top 15. I was really worried going into today because I was behind, but this result helped me catch up. Now I just need to stay consistent.”
Canada’s Liliane Gagnon (Shawinigan-Sud, Que.) finished 38th with a time of 51:39, while Olivier Léveillé (Sherbrooke, Que.) and Antoine Cyr (Gatineau, Que.) placed 48th and 56th, respectively, in the men’s race.
In Stage 4 tomorrow, athletes will compete in the 15-kilometre pursuit classic, with starting positions based on today’s results. Stewart-Jones will begin in fifth, ready to chase a podium finish.