Jessie Diggins leads the women's World Cup rankings. © Newspower.it

Tour de Ski: The crème de la crème in Toblach

Tomorrow the Tour de Ski 2024/2025 begins in Toblach with the skating-style sprint. The best cross-country skiers in the world are in South Tyrol. In addition to the big favorites from Norway, Sweden and France should not be underestimated.

27 December 2024

From: pm

The Tour de Ski is the most prestigious event on the cross-country World Cup calendar - with the highest prize money and a wealth of World Cup points. This year's edition will award three colored jerseys: gold, silver and purple for the leaders of the overall, sprint and mountain classifications.

The total prize money is over 820.000 euros. The winner of the Tour de Ski receives over 90.000 euros, plus bonuses for the first three in each stage (3.200, 2.130 and 1.070 euros). The best 20 in each stage also receive prize money and valuable World Cup points. The overall winner also secures 300 points for the overall ranking, in addition to the points from the individual stages. Prize money and points are also awarded for the top six in the sprint and mountain rankings, as well as for the podium places in each stage.

Norwegian Harald Østberg Amundsen wants to defend his title in Toblach. © Newspower.it

The best cross-country skiers in the world are gathered in Toblach, including defending champions and current World Cup leaders Jessie Diggins (USA) and Harald Østberg Amundsen (NOR). Both face strong competitors, including Therese Johaug (NOR) and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (NOR), who could equal the records of Justyna Kowalczyk and Dario Cologna with a fourth Tour victory. Norway is competing with an impressive team, including Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget, Erik Valnes and Even Northug.

Michael Hellweger starts at the Tour de Ski. © Newspower.it

The Italian team is ready to represent the tricolor in the first all-Italian edition of the Tour de Ski. Team captain Federico Pellegrino will be supported by athletes Federica Cassol, Nadine Laurent, Anna Comarella, Caterina Ganz and Nicole Monsorno. The men's team includes Michael Hellweger, Paolo Ventura, Simone Daprà, Giacomo Gabrielli, Giovanni Ticcò, Simone Mocellini, Elia Barp, Martino Carollo, Lorenzo Romano, Martin Coradazzi and Davide Graz.

The program in Dobbiaco

Tomorrow, Saturday, at 12 noon, the official start of the 19th edition of the Tour de Ski in Toblach will be given. The skating sprint will kick things off, followed by the first mass start race in history in Toblach the following day. After a rest day on Monday, the race continues on December 31st with a spectacular individual race with a view of the Three Peaks. The new year finally begins with the pursuit on Wednesday, January 1st.