Cross Country athletes prepare for Tour de Ski

While many Aussies are relaxing during the summer holiday season, a number of Australia’s top cross country skiers are preparing to tackle the infamous Tour de Ski stage race in Europe.

Starting on 28 December and running until 4 January, the Tour de Ski is one of the premier events on the FIS Cross Country World Cup calendar, featuring six World Cup events over eight days across three countries.

Following strong results at the St Ulrich OPA Cup last week and previous races in December, seven athletes have been selected to represent Australia in the first leg of the Tour de Ski in Lenzerheide, Switzerland: Casey Wright, Amiee Watson, Jessica Yeaton, Phillip Bellingham, Seve de Campo, Lars Young Vik and World Cup debutant Hugo Hinckfuss.

Winter Olympians Yeaton and Bellingham plan on tackling all stages of the 2021/2022 event, while their teammates may continue depending on their form in the first stages.

After dual Winter Olympian Callum Watson, Yeaton became only the second Australian in history to compete in all stages, when she placed 38th in the 2019/2020 edition of the event.

Hinckfuss secured his World Cup start after the 18-year-old finished 46th in the Men’s 15km Classic at the recent St Ulrich OPA Cup, scoring less than 120 FIS points for the first time, which qualified him to race in his debut World Cup.

Given it is an Olympic year, this year’s edition of the Tour de Ski is shorter than previous years, which Snow Australia’s Cross Country Skiing Program Director, Finn Marsland, said is to encourage a more competitive field and preparation ahead of Beijing 2022 in February.

“Normally there are eight events in ten days, including distances up to 30km, however this year’s lighter schedule is to encourage more of the top athletes to complete the Tour,” Marsland said.
 
“The high intensity block, six races in eight days, followed by a recovery/training period, can help bring athletes into peak form for February.
 
“This is the plan for Jess and Phil. After Jess completed the tour in 2020, she was great form 3-4 weeks later and won the American Birkebeiner.
 
“The tightrope athletes are balancing is that if they are slightly under prepared or don't have the base to sustain them through the Tour, the intense racing combined with travel could push them off the edge. That's why some athletes will finish the tour early, even if it seems on paper that they are in good shape.”
 
Heading into the event just days after Christmas, most of the athletes have lowered their training intensity over the festive period to enter the event in strong form.
 
“Most preparation for the Tour, indeed for the whole racing season, is done well in advance,” Marsland said.
 
“With already some good racing under their belts from early December, this last week before the Tour is about feeling fresh, both mentally and physically. They are still training most days, but the intensity is generally lower… and they're a bit more relaxed.”

 
Following the Tour de Ski in early January, Snow Australia will finalise the Cross Country Team for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Full Tour de Ski Stages
    •    Dec 28 Lenzerheide (SUI) Sprint Freestyle (women and men)

    •    Dec 29 Lenzerheide (SUI 10km / 15km Classic

    •    Dec 31 Oberstdorf (GER) 10km / 15km Freestyle

    •    Jan 1  Oberstdorf (GER) Sprint Classic

    •    Jan 3 Val di Fiemme (ITA) 10km / 15km Classic

    •    Jan 4 Val di Fiemme (ITA) Final Climb Freestyle