The Tour de Ski is considered by some to be the toughest event in the sport. Combining seven races spanning over four countries in 10 days, it requires incredible levels of strength and stamina to survive. Most of the field drops out well before the finish. But for Emily Nishikawa, there was no question she was going to reach the Tour de Ski finish line.
Nishikawa finished 25th overall in the Tour de Ski, capping off her incredible week with a career-best 20th place result on the infamous Val de Fiemme climb. She became only the fifth Canadian female skier to finish the circuit in history.
Modeled after the Tour de France, the Tour de Ski stage race challenges the best skiers in the world with seven demanding races over ten days, concluding with a 425m vertical climb up Italy’s Alpe Cermis. Finishing all seven stages left the Canadian elated and exhausted, having checked of a longheld career goal.
“I think in the back of my mind it was an event I’ve always wanted to do,” Nishikawa said. “It’s so different. There are so many races, one after another. If you have a good day or a bad day, you have to move on right away. If you’re really upset about a race, you just have to forget it. You have no time to dwell on anything.”
