Krueger and Holund got a gap to the rest of the pack in the last climb, where the inclines are as high as 28%, battling it out for the first spot on the home straight. The win catapulted Krueger from fifth to second place in the overall standings.
“It was a tough fight up there today after a long tour and I’m really happy finishing first today and taking a podium place overall,” Krueger said.
“It was a tough fight with Holund up the last metres here but I’m really happy.”
Krueger, 29, said the uphill climb in the Alpe Cermis slope had been tougher than he remembered it from previous years.
“I felt that it was even steeper this year,” he said.
“I felt pretty good until the last kilometre. Then there was not much power left but luckily I had a big enough gap to manage to take the victory.”
Klaebo also won the point standing with a total of 159 collected points. Norway’s Sindre Bjoernstad Skar finished second with 84 points. Calle Halfvarsson from Sweden, got the third place, also at 84.
Halfvarsson, who had come into the last event as the tour’s overall No.2, looked keen in the first part of the race but struggled in the climb and finished 22nd, having to settle for an overall sixth-place.
Italy’s Federico Pellegrino got the overall fourth-place while overall World Cup No.2 Paal Golberg from Norway finished fifth.
The World Cup action continues on 21-22 January in Livigno, Italy.
Click here for full results from the men’s 10km mass start free.
