Schumacher thought differently. And boy was he right.

Mount Van Hoevenberg was packed to the brim this past weekend as thousands descended onto the venue for Lake Placid’s first-ever FIS Cross-Country World Cup final.

The event was the largest Nordic ski event this village has hosted since the 1980 Olympics, as nearly all of the top cross-country skiers in the world took part in the competition, which is rarely held on U.S. soil.

It marked only the seventh World Cup event held in the U.S. since its inception in 1983. To put that in perspective, there have been nearly 1,000 cross-country World Cup races ever. Its rarity, along with elite-level athletes, drew people in.

USA’s Gus Schumacher starts his 10K interval classic race on Friday during the FIS Cross-Country World Cup final in Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)

And of course, the cherry on top of the entire weekend was that it was American cross-country ski legend Jessie Diggins’ final race. The 34-year-old, four-time Olympic medalist announced at the beginning of the season that this would be her last year of competitive racing.

“Diggins-Mania” took full control of the event … You couldn’t miss it.

Spectators, both young and old, non-athletes and even a group of state championship-winning varsity Nordic skiers were ecstatic to see her race – and potentially even meet her. And Diggins loved seeing so many people interested in cross-country skiing.

“It feels like such an honor and a privilege to get to be a role model for these young kids and to get to bring them some excitement,” she said on Friday. “I just love the cheering.”

Diggins was then interrupted by a crowd of young skiers, who yelled out, “We love you, Jessie.”

USA’s Jessie Diggins competes in the women’s 20K mass start on Sunday at the FIS Cross-Country World Cup final in Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)

“Case in point,” Diggins said, after waving to them. “They’re as sweet as can be. Like nothing is cuter than this, and it’s just so cool to be here with them.”

Diggins was the top American in all three races this past weekend. She opened up the racing with a fifth-place finish in 10K, before taking ninth in the sprint.

On Sunday, in her final race, she was in the running for the top spot during the 20K mass start, but a crash on the final lap caused her to drop to 12th.

Diggins still locked up her fourth career overall World Cup title, earning the crystal globe as the world’s best overall cross-country skier.

Though, it was essentially guaranteed before arriving at the two-time Olympic village, since she was only three points away from clinching it.

Norwegian Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo leads the men’s 20K mass start on Sunday at the FIS Cross-Country World Cup final in Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)

Norwegian Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, who won a record six gold medals at the 2026 Olympics, didn’t even need to race in Lake Placid to secure the overall men’s title.

Even though Klaebo, the man considered by many to be the greatest cross-country skier of all-time, hadn’t trained in a week since he suffered a concussion on March 12 in Drammen, Norway, he didn’t look like he missed a beat.

The Norwegian fought through a snowy 10K interval start classic on Friday, beating out teammates Andreas Fjorden Ree and Mattis Stenshagen, who placed second and third, respectively.

Meanwhile, Sweden’s Linn Svahn won the women’s 10K interval start classic earlier in the day, while fellow Swede Frida Karlson was second and Norwegian Heidi Weng was third.

Klaebo opted out of Saturday’s race in preparation for Sunday’s 20K mass start, which allowed Italy’s Federico Pellegrino to win the men’s race. Norway’s Lars Heegan took second and Sweden’s Anton Grahn placed third.

Sweden’s Jonna Sundling celebrates after winning the women’s 20K mass start on Sunday during the FIS Cross-Country World Cup final in Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)

On the women’s side, the Swedes swept as Svahn won again, with teammates Jonna Sundling in second and Maja Dahlqvist in third.

Klaebo was his usual self in Sunday’s 20K mass start, winning another World Cup race – he now has won more than 100, which is the most all-time – on the way to claiming a clean sweep of Crystal Globes: overall, sprint and distance.

“It’s always cool to win those (Crystal Globes),” Klaebo said, while joking that its going to be a lot of weight he has to bring back to Norway. “But it’s a lot of awards at the end of the season, and I guess that’s just part of the game.”

Norwegian Harald Oestberg Amundsen placed second in the 20K race, while teammate Einar Hedegart was third.

Sundling claimed the women’s 20K title, beating out Svahn and Weng.

Norwegian Nordic skiers lead the way at the start of Sunday’s 20K mass start during the FIS Cross-Country World Cup final in Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Parker O'Brien)

Apart from Diggins, the U.S. cross-country team posted some solid results, as the men’s team recorded two top-10 finishes throughout the weekend. Schumacher had a seventh-place effort in the 10K race and a ninth-place finish in the sprint from JC Schoonmaker.

Two-time Olympic silver medalist Ben Ogden also recorded an 11th-place result in the 10K classic on Friday. However, Sunday’s rainy weather got to the American as he placed 52nd on the final day of racing.

“I didn’t have the legs to stay with the leaders for too long, but just enjoyed the last couple laps with all my faithful fans out there, which was a real treat,” Ogden said.

Throughout the three days of racing, the event drew a total of 35,622 attendees, according to the state Olympic Regional Development Authority, which owns and operates Mount Van Hoevenberg. It’s close to the turnout from the last time the World Cup was held in the United States – in Minnesota – in 2024.

Ogden, who didn’t compete in the Minneapolis World Cup back then because of an illness, said racing in Lake Placid was incredible.

“We’ve got thousands of people out here cheering, and it’s pouring rain and 40 degrees,” he said on Sunday. “That’s New England skiing for you, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it.”

Of course, Sunday’s not-so-ideal weather didn’t cool down the fans from watching Diggins one more time.

Leading up to the race, the American star couldn’t stop – and may have held back tears. And as the entire women’s World Cup field awaited the start of the 20K race, Diggins yelled out “Thank you,” to the crowd, which of course was met with cheers.

Her fall on the final descent may have derailed her result, but not the moment. After finishing her race, she was greeted by her teammates, competitors, coaches, family and friends.

“That was so incredibly special,” Diggins said in a statement. “All the people out there chanting, my family out there, the team … I’m just gonna miss everyone so much. Sorry. I just have so many big feelings because this sport has been a huge part of my life. And they’ve all become my family.”

American teammate Novie McCabe said Diggins has inspired her in so many ways.

“She’s a great mentor and always has time to help the rest of us out,” she said. “So we’re gonna miss her a lot.”

Klaebo said the sport needs more personalities like Diggins.

“For us to have an American that has really been showing the way for the American people, but also (someone who) has shown a lot of young skiers good values, is important,” he said. “I think we all really wish she would continue longer for sure, but I think for her, it feels like she wants to turn it here, which is completely understandable.”

Diggins closed her career with one final lap at Mount Van Hoevenberg, while waving to a bunch of youngsters.