Tour de Ski
Encyclopedia
Tour de Ski is a cross-country skiing
event held annually since 2007 in Central Europe, modeled on the Tour de France
of cycling. Races have been held in the Czech Republic
, Germany
and Italy
over eight days. The prize money for the event amounted to 1,055,000 Swiss francs (844,000 Euro), shared out on both men and women. Men's and women's events were held together on the same days.
which led to a rush of new events, including pursuit skiing, sprint skiing and eventually long mass start races, to complement the old time trial
or individual start style of skiing. The Tour is another such new event, and the idea has been reported to come from former Olympic gold medallist Vegard Ulvang
. Ulvang has also brought up the idea of a tour of the Barents Region
, Tour de Barents
, with races in Kirkenes
(Sandnes) and Vadsø
in Finnmark
and Murmansk
in Russia
.
Jürg Capol
, FIS
' chief executive officer for cross-country competitions, said that FIS originally wished to start the race in the Alps. However, as neither Austria or Switzerland were interested, the opening two races were to be held in Nové Město na Moravě
in the Czech Republic
. A week before the Tour was due to start, FIS announced that snow conditions in Nové Město were not good enough, and cancelled the two races there.
Skiers from France, Germany and Norway, among others, said that the Tour de Ski was among their targets for the 2006–07 season, with Norwegian skier Jens Arne Svartedal
claiming that the winner would have "extreme respect" for winning such an extreme race.
After the first Tour, reactions among athletes were largely positive. Norwegian athletes said "it was a good concept", German winner Tobias Angerer
claimed the Tour "has a great future", though many of the athletes expressed concern over the final climb up an alpine skiing hill both before and after the race. The director of FIS' cross-country committee, Vegard Ulvang
, said the finish would be in the same place next year, but the way up could be changed. Ulvang also claimed that the Tour had been a success, and a "breakthrough for FIS" Ulvang did, however, admit that there would have to be some changes, as up to a third of participants in the Tour have struggled with illness or injury after the competition.
Newspaper comments were divided: in Expressen
's opinion, the finish was the "most enjoyable competition seen in years," while Roland Wiedemann in Der Spiegel
said this "should be the future of cross-country skiing".. Critical commentaries appeared in Göteborgs-Posten
, criticising the fact that sprinters didn't have a chance in the overall standings, and Wiesbaden Kurier, describing it as a reality show and a skiing circus.
The next Tour was held between 28 December 2007 and 6 January 2008, in the Czech Republic and Italy. Oberstdorf
in Bavaria was originally scheduled to host two races, but cancelled as the German Ski Association
could only arrange a race on 2 January.
At a meeting in Venice
, Italy
on 7 May 2009, TdS officials met with official from the Giro d'Italia
road bicycle racing
to learn from the stage race to further improve TdS competition for the 2009-2010 event.
The two sprint races carry bonus seconds for the finish, which are subtracted from the overall time.
In mass start competitions, intermediate points carry bonus seconds; 15 to the winner, 10 to number two, and 5 to number three. The same amount of seconds are awarded at the finish.
The final stage of the race includes heavy climb up to Alpe Cermis. The competitors start with the gaps they have from earlier stages, so the first one on the top is the overall winner.
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
event held annually since 2007 in Central Europe, modeled on the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
of cycling. Races have been held in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
over eight days. The prize money for the event amounted to 1,055,000 Swiss francs (844,000 Euro), shared out on both men and women. Men's and women's events were held together on the same days.
History
Cross-country skiing had been through a period of renewal from the early 1980s, when the free technique was first introduced to the World ChampionshipsFIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships have been held in various numbers and types of events since 1925 for men and since 1954 for women. Championship events include nordic skiing's three disciplines: cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and nordic combined...
which led to a rush of new events, including pursuit skiing, sprint skiing and eventually long mass start races, to complement the old time trial
Time trial
In many racing sports an athlete will compete in a time trial against the clock to secure the fastest time. In cycling, for example, a time trial can be a single track cycling event, or an individual or team time trial on the road, and either or both of the latter may form components of...
or individual start style of skiing. The Tour is another such new event, and the idea has been reported to come from former Olympic gold medallist Vegard Ulvang
Vegard Ulvang
Vegard Ulvang is a Norwegian former cross-country skier who won three Olympic gold medals. At the opening ceremony of the 1994 Winter Olympic Games, he took the ceremonial Olympic Oath on part of all the athletes...
. Ulvang has also brought up the idea of a tour of the Barents Region
Barents Region
The Barents Region is a name given, by political ambition to establish international cooperation after the fall of the Soviet Union, to the land along the coast of the Barents Sea, from Nordland in Norway to the Kola Peninsula in Russia and beyond all the way to the Ural Mountains and Novaya...
, Tour de Barents
Tour de Barents
Tour de Barents is a race planned after the model of Tour de Ski, which is an idea that has been reported to come from former Olympic gold medallist Vegard Ulvang. Tour de Barents will have races in Kirkenes and Vadsø in Finnmark, Rovaniemi in Finland and Murmansk in Russia....
, with races in Kirkenes
Kirkenes
is a town in the municipality of Sør-Varanger in the county of Finnmark in the far northeast of Norway...
(Sandnes) and Vadsø
Vadsø
is a city and municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The city is the administrative centre of the municipality and the county of Finnmark....
in Finnmark
Finnmark
or Finnmárku is a county in the extreme northeast of Norway. By land it borders Troms county to the west, Finland to the south and Russia to the east, and by water, the Norwegian Sea to the northwest, and the Barents Sea to the north and northeast.The county was formerly known as Finmarkens...
and Murmansk
Murmansk
Murmansk is a city and the administrative center of Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It serves as a seaport and is located in the extreme northwest part of Russia, on the Kola Bay, from the Barents Sea on the northern shore of the Kola Peninsula, not far from Russia's borders with Norway and Finland...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Jürg Capol
Jürg Capol
Jürg Capol was a Swiss cross country skier who competed from 1988 to 1994 and is race director for all cross-country skiing events for the International Ski Federation...
, FIS
International Ski Federation
The International Ski Federation, known by its name in French, Fédération Internationale de Ski is the main international organisation for ski sports...
' chief executive officer for cross-country competitions, said that FIS originally wished to start the race in the Alps. However, as neither Austria or Switzerland were interested, the opening two races were to be held in Nové Město na Moravě
Nové Mesto na Morave
Nové Město na Moravě is a town in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. It has 10,464 inhabitants.-Business in town:Despite its location surrounded by great outdoors, the town has a long tradition of manufacturing...
in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. A week before the Tour was due to start, FIS announced that snow conditions in Nové Město were not good enough, and cancelled the two races there.
Skiers from France, Germany and Norway, among others, said that the Tour de Ski was among their targets for the 2006–07 season, with Norwegian skier Jens Arne Svartedal
Jens Arne Svartedal
Jens Arne Svartedal is a Norwegian cross country skier who has competed since 1996. He represents Trøsken IL from Sarpsborg in Norway. His greatest achievement is winning the individual sprint gold medal at the 2007 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Sapporo...
claiming that the winner would have "extreme respect" for winning such an extreme race.
After the first Tour, reactions among athletes were largely positive. Norwegian athletes said "it was a good concept", German winner Tobias Angerer
Tobias Angerer
Tobias Angerer is a German cross country skier, and skies with the SC Vachendorf club. He graduated from the Skigymnasium Berchtesgaden in 1996. His occupation is "Sports Soldier"...
claimed the Tour "has a great future", though many of the athletes expressed concern over the final climb up an alpine skiing hill both before and after the race. The director of FIS' cross-country committee, Vegard Ulvang
Vegard Ulvang
Vegard Ulvang is a Norwegian former cross-country skier who won three Olympic gold medals. At the opening ceremony of the 1994 Winter Olympic Games, he took the ceremonial Olympic Oath on part of all the athletes...
, said the finish would be in the same place next year, but the way up could be changed. Ulvang also claimed that the Tour had been a success, and a "breakthrough for FIS" Ulvang did, however, admit that there would have to be some changes, as up to a third of participants in the Tour have struggled with illness or injury after the competition.
Newspaper comments were divided: in Expressen
Expressen
Expressen is one of two nationwide evening tabloid newspapers in Sweden, the other being Aftonbladet. Expressen was founded in 1944; its symbol is a wasp and slogans "it stings" or "Expressen to your rescue", always on the reader's side....
's opinion, the finish was the "most enjoyable competition seen in years," while Roland Wiedemann in Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...
said this "should be the future of cross-country skiing".. Critical commentaries appeared in Göteborgs-Posten
Göteborgs-Posten
Göteborgs-Posten is a major daily newspaper in Sweden. It is published in Gothenburg, with containing coverage of local, regional, national and international issues. It is chiefly distributed in western Götaland. It has the second largest national circulation, after Dagens Nyheter and before...
, criticising the fact that sprinters didn't have a chance in the overall standings, and Wiesbaden Kurier, describing it as a reality show and a skiing circus.
The next Tour was held between 28 December 2007 and 6 January 2008, in the Czech Republic and Italy. Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf
Oberstdorf is a municipality and skiing and hiking town in southwest Germany, located in the Allgäu region of the Bavarian Alps.At the center of Oberstdorf is a church whose tall spire serves as a landmark for navigating around town. The summits of the Nebelhorn and Fellhorn provide...
in Bavaria was originally scheduled to host two races, but cancelled as the German Ski Association
German Ski Association
The German Ski Association is the national governing body for skiing in Germany. The organisation was founded in 1905 among local ski clubs. The DSV headquarters are located in Planegg, south of Munich...
could only arrange a race on 2 January.
At a meeting in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
on 7 May 2009, TdS officials met with official from the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
to learn from the stage race to further improve TdS competition for the 2009-2010 event.
Ranking
The overall results are based on the aggregate time for all events, as well as bonus seconds awarded on sprint and mass start stages.The two sprint races carry bonus seconds for the finish, which are subtracted from the overall time.
In mass start competitions, intermediate points carry bonus seconds; 15 to the winner, 10 to number two, and 5 to number three. The same amount of seconds are awarded at the finish.
The final stage of the race includes heavy climb up to Alpe Cermis. The competitors start with the gaps they have from earlier stages, so the first one on the top is the overall winner.
Men
| Year | Overall | Sprint cup | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | ||
| 2007 | ||||
| 2008 | ||||
| 2009 2008–09 Tour de Ski The 2008–09 Tour de Ski took place from 27 December 2008 until 4 January 2009. The race kicked off in Oberhof, Germany, and finished in Val di Fiemme, Italy... |
||||
| 2010 2009–10 Tour de Ski The 2009–10 Tour de Ski took place 1-10 January 2010. The race started in Oberhof, Germany, and ended in Val di Fiemme, Italy. The defending champions are Switzerland's Dario Cologna for the men and Finland's Virpi Kuitunen... |
||||
| 2011 2010–11 Tour de Ski The 2010–11 Tour de Ski took place from 31 December 2010 to 9 January 2011. The race started in Oberhof, Germany, and ended in Val di Fiemme, Italy... |
||||
Women
| Year | Overall | Sprint cup | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | ||
| 2007 | ||||
| 2008 | ||||
| 2009 2008–09 Tour de Ski The 2008–09 Tour de Ski took place from 27 December 2008 until 4 January 2009. The race kicked off in Oberhof, Germany, and finished in Val di Fiemme, Italy... |
||||
| 2010 2009–10 Tour de Ski The 2009–10 Tour de Ski took place 1-10 January 2010. The race started in Oberhof, Germany, and ended in Val di Fiemme, Italy. The defending champions are Switzerland's Dario Cologna for the men and Finland's Virpi Kuitunen... |
||||
| 2011 2010–11 Tour de Ski The 2010–11 Tour de Ski took place from 31 December 2010 to 9 January 2011. The race started in Oberhof, Germany, and ended in Val di Fiemme, Italy... |
||||