Author: Mario
Last saved by: Utente

Press release 12^th November 2021

COLOGNA AND KOWALCZYK UNBEATABLE
TOUR DE SKI: THE SHOW MUST GO ON

The Swiss and the Polish four times winners of the Tour
Competitions on Monday 3^rd and Tuesday 4^th at Lago di Tesero and Cermis (Val di Fiemme, Italy)
Klæbo - Bolshunov vis-à-vis
Val di Fiemme welcomes back the live-audience and “Rampa con i Campioni”

Just a little more than 50 days and Tour de Ski comes back to Italy. Unusually taking place during the week, the 16^th Tour de Ski in 2022 comes to Val di Fiemme aiming to design, once again, the Champion with the capital C. On Monday 3^rd and Tuesday 4^th, the greatest world cross-country skiers compete first in a CT Mass Start in Lago di Tesero (15 km men and 10 km women), then in the spectacular and hard FT Final Climb arriving on Alpe Cermis.
Not until long ago, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, three gold Olympic medals, six World Championships titles, two times winner of the over-all World Cup and four times winner of the specialty World Cup, declared his focus would have been primarily on the Olympic Games, giving up the “Tour”. However, he recently announced he is going to compete. From Russia, Alexander Bolshunov, winner of the last two editions of the Tour, echoes the Norwegian: the ascent of the Alpe Cermis will surely offer a Tour de Ski-worthy show. Nevertheless, the battle Klæbo vs Bolshunov won’t steal the show from Dario Cologna (SUI) and Justyna Kowalczyk (POL), as absolute protagonists of the Tour de Ski. The Swiss with Italian roots won four times (2009, 2011, 2012, 2018) and he will end his prestigious career in 2022. The Polish did it too and she left competitions, now being a full-time mom. Four victories for her too (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013), “pressed” by Johaug with three.
Athletes consider these competitions in Val di Fiemme as the most challenging in the World Cup, yet spectacular for the audience, which, unless last-minute restrictions, will be back along the track.
Mass start takes place in Lago di Tesero on Monday 3^rd along the 2,5 km-track. Women face it four times, while men six, respectively with a difference in height of 384 mt and 576 mt.
The true “troubling” difference in height is on Tuesday 4^th. The overall is 582 meters, yet only the ascent to Cermis measures 418 meters along 3,6 km. Mass start makes it even more challenging, and TV images around the world witnessed competitions in Val di Fiemme as the most admired in the “white world”.
Next Friday, 19^th November, registrations for “Rampa con i Campioni” open. This is the open race dedicated to amateurs and champions not involved in the Tour de Ski. Along the years, this competition got more and more importance, welcoming champions such as Cristian Zorzi, Aleksandr Legkov, Antonella Confortola and Justyna Kowalczyk.
The “big” Tour also gives some space to the Mini World Cup Tour dedicated to the young, presenting a baby gymkhana along the tracks of the Cross-country stadium in Lago di Tesero.
Waiting for the snow to come, in Lago di Tesero and on Cermis, the organising committee already installed the snow-cannons in order to produce artificial snow. Tour de Ski atmosphere is already here.
Info: www.fiemmeworldcup.com

MOST TIMES WINNERS OF THE TOUR DE SKI IN VAL DI FIEMME

Men
Dario Cologna (SUI) 		4 victories (2009, 2011, 2012, 2018)
Martin J. Sundby (NOR) 	2 victories (2014, 2016)
Aleksandr Bolshunov (RUS)	2 victories (2020, 2021)
Lukas Bauer (CZE) 		2 victories (2008, 2010)
Women
Justyna Kowalczyk (POL)	4 victories (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)
Therese Johaug (NOR)		3 victories (2014, 2016, 2020)
Heidi Weng (NOR)		2 victories (2017, 2018)
Virpi Kuitunen (FIN)		2 victories (2007, 2009)