The Dobbiaco Tour de Ski is approaching
Dec 22, 2018·Cross-Country
The countdown is running: Next week, on Friday, 28 December the opening ceremony for the Tour de Ski will take place in the village centre of Dobbiaco. Over the following two days the international cross country skiing stars will gather in the Nordic Arena. Everything is ready for a memorable weekend.
Athletes from 25 countries, around 200 journalists and a dozen TV stations from all over the world: in Dobbiaco everything is ready for a special cross country skiing fest. For the first time ever the prestigious Tour de Ski starts in the village with 3300 inhabitants. On Saturday, 29 December, the spectacular sprint races will take place, on Sunday, 30 December the distance races are run over 10 km (women) and 15 km (men).
During the sprints, it could get rather noisy in the Nordic Arena: Federico Pellegrino from Aosta, Italy is a highly promising skier, as his victory in Lillehammer, Norway, and a second place in Davos, Switzerland in the two previous sprints of the season prove.
Johaug not at the start, Klæbo present
The main missing athlete in Dobbiaco, and at the Tour de Ski in general, is Therese Johaug. After an 18-months ban for doping she now returns to the World Cup - where she is as dominant as if she had never been away. Because she wants to take a training break in view of the World Championships in Seefeld (16 February to 3 March), she will not participate in the Tour. Instead, top star Johannes Høsflot Klæbo , also from Norway, will start at the Tour de Ski for the first time and therefore be present in Dobbiaco.
This year it is possible to get very close to the cross country skiing stars: On Friday, 28 December, the opening ceremony takes place for the first time in Dobbiaco village centre and all top athletes will be present.
Tour de Ski programme in Dobbiaco:
Friday, 28th December
5:00 pm: Opening ceremony in the village centre
Saturday, 29th December
12:00 pm Qualification Sprint
2:30 pm Final Sprint Men & Women
Sunday, 30th December
12.45 h 10 km Freestyle Women
14.45 h 15 km Freestyle Men
