It's World Cup time in Toblach

Press release from Newspower.it

• Italy's Toblach to host a two-day World Cup event

• 10 and 15 km FT/CT races scheduled on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 December

• Nordic Arena and a new track named 'Nathalie' in wait of over 200 athletes

The Nordic Arena in Toblach (Italy) is now covered by a thick layer of fresh snow and the XC skiing World Cup athletes are about to invade the area on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 December.

Two days of spectacular races are scheduled in Northern Italy, namely a Women's 10k and a Men's 15k FT Interval Start competition on Saturday and two CT Pursuit events on Sunday on the same distances.

There is a track in Toblach named Nathalie that has been recently renewed with a tough uphill section of 18% maximum gradient. This 5 km-long track will also be housing the FIS Tour de Ski kick-off event next year. The name of the track comes after local OC President Herbert Santer's daughter, a former biathlete now race director who followed the creation of the track step by step.

Over 200 athletes from 29 nations will show up in Toblach next weekend. France's Maurice Manificat, Norway's Martin Johnsrud Sundby, Russian Sergej Ustiugov and Alexander Bolshunov, and Swiss Dario Cologna will be joining the event. On women's side, the most favorites are Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg, Heidi Weng, Marit Bjoergen, Jessica Diggins, current World Cup leader Charlotte Kalla.

Official schedule (live broadcast on major TV channels around the world) reads as follows: Women's race at 11 AM followed by Men's at 13.30 on Saturday. The first Sunday's event will be Women's at 11.30, while the male race will kick off at 13.30.

Info: www.worldcup-dobbiaco.it