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Press release 10^th December 2020 

ONE MONTH TO GO UNTIL THE TOUR DE SKI 
IN VAL DI FIEMME AND THE FINAL CLIMB 

The last three races of Tour de Ski 2021 on 8, 9 and 10 January in Val di Fiemme (ITA)
Mass Start CT, Sprint CT and Final Climb on Alpe Cermis
The Norwegian team will not be competing, but there will still be plenty of challenges

With only one month to go until the last stage of Tour de Ski – the challenge that has fascinated cross-country enthusiasts for 15 years – Val di Fiemme (ITA) is getting ready to host the last three races of the Tour. The Tour made its debut in 2007, and with it the Final Climb of Alpe Cermis, the steepest climb ever faced by cross-country skiers.
Great champions have left their mark since then, with Tobias Angerer (GER) and Virpi Kuitunen (FIN) being the first overall winners of the Tour.
Val di Fiemme has always hosted a stage of the Tour de Ski, with the Final Climb on Alpe Cermis and the 10 and 15 km CT Mass Start in Lago di Tesero. For the second year in a row, a sprint race has been added to the programme in Val di Fiemme.
The three races will take place on 8, 9 and 10 January. The next edition will inevitably be different from last year. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced everyone to impose strict rules and adopt thorough protocols to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the athletes and their entourage. This means that this season all the races of the Tour de Ski will take place behind closed doors – fans will have the chance to enjoy the great show on TV thanks to the many broadcasters that will be covering the events live.
Recent news: the Norwegian squad will not be competing in January’s Tour de Ski due to concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic and the quarantine imposed by Norway after a stay in so-called ‘red’ countries. It’s a shame that the Norwegian team won’t be part of the Tour de Ski, even if the history of the Tour tells us that only four Norwegian male athletes have won it, while the Norwegian women clinched the title in the last seven editions. Tour de Ski 2021 will definitely be more balanced, hard-fought and even more spectacular, with the legendary Final Climb held once again as a mass start.
The national teams still have time to enter their athletes. It is still impossible to say who will be the favourites, even if Bolshunov (RUS) – who won the Tour in 2020 – is ready to be crowned king for the second time in a row.
In the meantime, the courses are being prepared in Lago di Tesero and on Alpe Cermis. The recent heavy snowfalls have whitened Val di Fiemme, offering very enchanting landscapes. The many volunteers are already at work setting up the different facilities. On 8, 9 and 10 January 2021 there will be no entertainment and side events due to the Coronavirus, and the competitions will take place in compliance with very strict requirements – all accredited people will have to take swab tests, wear face coverings as well as respect social distancing and many other measures.
It will nevertheless be a great event that you can watch live in the comfort of your own home.

Info: www.fiemmeworldcup.com