Transported out of the course by ambulance after a dramatic collapse during the 10km race at the Tour de Ski on Monday afternoon.

There were dramatic scenes during the second stage of the Tour de Ski in Toblach.

After eight of the ten kilometers, Slovenian cross-country skiing talent Anže Gros collapsed in the middle of the course. He was evacuated by snowmobile, transferred directly to a waiting ambulance, and then taken to the hospital.

Norwegian Olympic and World Champion Ola Vigen Hattestad, now a coach for the Slovenian national team, assisted the 23-year-old off the course.

“He was conscious the entire time, so we hope everything will be fine, even though we don’t yet know exactly what happened. Our team doctor is with him,” Hattestad said.

“I couldn’t feel my legs”

A few hours later, Gros explained what happened.

“What happened was that I pushed a bit too far, to put it that way. Suddenly, I couldn’t feel my legs and collapsed on the course. I tried to get up, but I couldn’t,” he told Expressen.

Extreme exhaustion

Gros also said he was so exhausted that he vomited while receiving medical assistance.

“I almost threw up on one of the doctors while they were helping me. It wasn’t good,” he said.

At the hospital, doctors concluded that the collapse was caused by extreme exhaustion. Gros says he is feeling better now, but his Tour de Ski 2026 is over.

Promising skier

Anže Gros is considered one of Slovenia’s most promising young cross-country skiers. He has competed at the Junior World Championships and made his World Cup debut in December 2021.

See the complete Tour de Ski program below.

FACTS Tour de Ski Season 2025/2026

• When: Sunday, December 28, 2025, to Sunday, January 4, 2026
• Who: Elite national skiers – women and men
• Where: Toblach/ITA and Val di Fiemme/ITA
• What: FIS Tour de Ski

PROGRAM

Sunday, December 28: Toblach, Italy – Sprint Freestyle (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:45 CET: Sprint Qualification Freestyle, Women
• 12:27 CET: Sprint Qualification Freestyle, Men
• 14:15 CET: Sprint Heats/Finals Freestyle, Women
• 14:15 CET: Sprint Heats/Finals Freestyle, Men

Monday, December 29, Toblach, Italy – 10km Interval Start Classic (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:45 CET: 10km Interval Start Classic, Men
• 14:45 CET: 10km Interval Start Classic, Women

Wednesday, December 31: Toblach, Italy – 5km Heat Mass Start Freestyle (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:30 CET: 5km Heat Mass Start Freestyle, Men
• 14:30 CET: 5km Heat Mass Start Freestyle, Women

Thursday, January 1: Toblach, Italy – 20km Pursuit Classic (More information can be found HERE)

• 10:30 CET: 20km Pursuit Classic, Men
• 12:30 CET: 20km Pursuit Classic, Women

Saturday, January 3: Val di Fiemme, Italy – Sprint Classic (More information can be found HERE)

• 12:15 CET: Sprint Qualification Classic, Women
• 12:15 CET: Sprint Qualification Classic, Men
• 14:45 CET: Sprint Heats/Finals Classic, Women
• 14:45 CET: Sprint Heats/Finals Classic, Men

Sunday, January 4: Val di Fiemme, Italy – 10km Mass Start Freestyle – Cermis Final Climb (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:30 CET: 10km Mass Start Freestyle – Final Climb, Men
• 15:30 CET: 10km Mass Start Freestyle – Final Climb, Women

Also Read – Cross-country skiing World Cup: Calendar for the 2025/2026 winter season

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it. !!