Author: Mario
Last saved by: Utente

Press release 9^th December 2021

TOUR DE SKI “MADE” IN VAL DI FIEMME (ITA)
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: FIXED-POINT THEOREM

3^rd and 4^th January, fundamental days for athletes and ski-lovers
The last two Tour de Ski stages in Lago di Tesero (Mass Start) and on Cermis (Final Climb)
Val di Fiemme: stories, competitions and champions are back. It is home to Nordic skiing
Two days in a sport, snowy, fun and suggestive valley

Cross-country skiing… up an ascent? The idea was new in 2007, with the first editions of the Tour de Ski, surprising the loving audience with the competitions ending along the alpine ski track, Olympia III on Alpe Cermis, but vice versa.
It has been snowing a lot since that year, and nowadays the Final Climb in Val di Fiemme is one of the most engaging races of the season and above all one of the most seen winter competitions in the world, even more than alpine skiing. The charm, the atmosphere and the magic of the two final days of the Tour de Ski are enlightening the beginning of 2022, the Olympic year, again in Val di Fiemme. That should be a fixed-point theorem!
During the years, from 2007 up to now, protagonists have been changing but the winners in Val di Fiemme often won the World Cup too. Tour de Ski is back in Val di Fiemme on Monday 3^rd and Tuesday 4^th January, for the first time not on a weekend. It is not yet known which top athletes will be present during the itinerant 6-days competitions in Switzerland (Lenzerheide), Germany (Oberstdorf) and Italy. Someone already made his participation clear, as the Russian Bolshunov, winner of the last two editions, who after the first World Cup races in Ruka and Lillehammer is chasing Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. Last year, Klæbo gave up the Tour de Ski according to Norwegian federation regulations due to Covid. At the beginning of this season, the champion from Trondheim claimed that he would have wanted to concentrate on the Olympic Games not taking part in the Tour de Ski, lately changing his mind. These two champions will have to show off on Cermis and decide the greatest among them. Both can rely on strong and solid teams, both helping their leaders and launching new strong talents. 
Fiemme Tour de Ski is not just the Final Climb. The tracks in Lago di Tesero, with three World Championships behind and the Olympic Games to come, represent one of the hardest yet most spectacular in the world. This year, the audience will enjoy them again for two enthusiastic days.
The tracks in Cermis and Lago di Tesero are perfectly snow-covered, both with natural and artificial snow.
Among women, the Norwegian champion Therese Johaug could be crowned as Queen of the Tour de Ski, with three victories and many podiums. This time, she will not be there, focusing on the Olympics. Fiemme Tour de Ski is thus expecting the ‘fight’ between Swedish and Americans. The American Jessica Diggins was the last winner on Cermis, on January 10^th 2021. Not to forget, Russians: climbing the rankings and winners of the relay in Norway after 17 years with four determinate athletes as Yulia Stupak, Natalia Nepryaeva, Tatiana Sorina and Veronika Stepanova. The last Russian victory in a team relay was in 2004, precisely in Lago di Tesero. Last January on Cermis, Stupak delighted all with her usual funny dance; Nepryaeva had some problems last September on Cermis during the Rollerski World Championships, angrily ending in second position and not presenting herself at the flower ceremony. The other two represent the two hidden diamonds of Elena Välbe, Russian cross-country skiing manager, three times World champion in Val di Fiemme in 1991 and authentic ‘treasure trove’ of Olympic and World Championship medals.
While waiting, it is good to be free on 3^rd and 4^th of January and living these competitions along the tracks everyone envies us. During those days, Val di Fiemme also offers some fun along the other tracks in the valley. ‘To be or not to be’ is Hamlet’s question, to be there is not a question… yet a pleasure.
Competitions start on Monday 3^rd January with a CT Mass Start – 10 km Women at 12.40 am and the 15 km men is at 2.50 pm. On Tuesday 4^th the awaited Final Climb takes place at 11.30 am and 3.25 pm.
Info: www.fiemmeworldcup.com