Ready for the FIS Cross-Country season!

As Teams travel from all around the world to the traditional FIS Cross-Country season start in Ruka, Finland, we have gathered the most important season features for the 41st season of the Cross-Country World Cup. With the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing in February 2022, the World Cup is the place to be this season in terms of preparation and qualification for the Olympics.

With a logistically upgraded travel schedule, the FIS Cross-Country World Cup calendar 2021/22 features traditional events as well as new venues and competitions. With the Tour de Ski that travels from Lenzerheide (SUI) to Oberstdorf (GER) and Val di Fiemme (ITA) a season's highlight awaits in a few weeks. Back on the World Cup calendar after many years is Les Rousses on the boarder from France to Switzerland and is ready to welcome the Cross-Country world right before they are heading to Planica (SLO) for the test events for the World Championships in 2023. In the post Olypic period, Falun (SWE) has a "Sunday special" ready with a mixed Relay AND mixed Team Sprint testevents both on the same day. For the grand finals, the Cross-Country family returns to Russia to the "Pearl of Sibiria" stadium in Tyumen.

An exciting schedule awaits, let's get it started!

THE WORLD CUP IN NUMBERS

• 62 competitions in total

• 32 competition days

• 16 Distance races (7 in C, 8 in F plus 1 Skiathlon)

• 12 Sprint races (7 in F, 5 in C)

• 2 Relays and 2 Team Sprints

• Click here for the World Cup calendar and the long-term World Cup calendar frame

​​​​​​​TOUR DE SKI

The 16th edition of the Tour de Ski will take place from 28th December to 4th January. With only 6 competitions days, the Tour is shorter than usual. The reason is due to the preparation phase in regard to the Olympic Winter Games.

WORLD CUP TROPHIES

Overall World Cup leader: Yellow bib
Distance or Sprint World Cup leader: Red bib
U23 ranking leader: Green bib

As a warm-up for the season, we have summarized the most significant rule changes for this season.

WORLD CUP RULES UPDATES

SPRINT QUALIFICATIONS

NEW To increase the value of the Sprint qualifications, the first 10 athletes of the qualification will get the following World Cup points:

1st place = 15 points           5th place = 6 points             8th place = 3 points
2nd place = 12 points           6th place = 5 points             9th place = 2 points
3rd place = 10 points           7th place = 4 points             10th place = 1 point
4th place = 8 points

Due to this rule, as well as to improve the quality of the TV production and the value of the qualification itself, the starting order of the qualification needed to be adapted:

• Seeded athletes (top 30) will choose their starting positions (bibs 1/3/5/…/59)

• The seeded athletes will start every 30” (15” gap between athletes)

TEAM SPRINTS
To have a fair system for both semi-finals regarding snow conditions, recovery time and more, adapted rules apply for Team Sprint. New qualification rules applied on World Cup, WSC and OWG level:

NEW: TOP-4 from each Semi-Final will be directly qualified for the final plus two lucky losers (fastest time)
Former rules: Top-2 from each Semi-Final were directly qualified for the final plus four lucky losers.

MIXED TEAM EVENTS
The formerly planned Mixed Relay at the World Cup Finals in Canmore (CAN) in 2020, will finally take place in Falun in March 2022. In addition, the mixed Team Sprint will take place. The mixed events are an important test for future race format discussion and a possible inclusion of them in the World Cup, WSC and OWG schedule.

SCHEDULED EVENTS ON 13TH MARCH 2022

• Mixed Relay (4x5km in order of woman, man, man, woman)

• Mixed Team Sprint

PRIZE MONEY – STEP 2 OF INCREASE
The total of CHF 45’500 per event (former CHF 42’000 per event) in individual events and stage event overall rankings will be divided between the positions 1-20 as follows:

1st place = CHF 12’500      8th place = CHF 1’200        15th place = CHF 500
2nd place = CHF 8’500        9th place = CHF 1’100        16th place = CHF 400
3rd place = CHF 5’000        10th place = CHF 1’000      17th place = CHF 350
4th place = CHF 4’200        11th place = CHF 900         18th place = CHF 300
5th place = CHF 3’200        12th place = CHF 800         19th place = CHF 250
6th place = CHF 2’200        13th place = CHF 700         20th place = CHF 200
7th place = CHF 1’600        14th place = CHF 600

In Relay and Team Sprint events, a total of CHF 35’500 per event (former CHF 32’000 per event) will be divided between the positions 1-6 as follows:

1st place = CHF 14’000      3rd place = CHF 5’000        5th place = CHF 2’500
2nd place = CHF 9’000        4th place = CHF 3’500        6th place = CHF 1’500

ICR UPDATES

UPDATED OBSTRUCTION AND OVERTAKING RULE 343.10
Several situations in past seasons have merged the need to look into the ICR rule 343.10.2 on obstruction and overtaking. During workshops with athletes, coaches, TD’s and legal experts, the rule was updated.

The updated rule was based on the following principles:

• Competitors shall not obstruct one another.

• Competitors in front have the right to choose their best line.

• Competitors in the front shall not obstruct competitors coming from behind.

• Competitors intending to pass shall do so without obstructing competitors being passed.

• When competitors are alongside, they have mutual duties not to obstruct each other.

• A process of passing is complete when the overtaking skier has his body ahead of the ski tips of the overtaken skier.

The updated rule does not apply in interval start competitions where way must be given upon first demand.