Women and men will race at the same distances in the World Cup, but a survey shows that the skiers are critical of the FIS decision. 

The distances that await the women and men in the World Cup next winter are 10, 20, and 50 kilometers, despite many World Cup athletes being against the proposal.  

According to NRK, in a survey with 114 skiers from 25 nations, 73% of the skiers think that women and men should not have the same race distances. The number is higher on the women’s side, with as much as 88% of the female skiers against the proposal.

The decision means, among other things, that women and men will race 50km at the Holmenkollen World Cup next March. For the World Championships, equal distances will be introduced at Trondheim 2025.    

For the Italian Virgínia de Martin Topranin, athlete’s representative on the cross-country skiing committee, some skiers fear that the women’s race will be less entertaining with longer distances.

“50 kilometers may lead to greater distances in the field. At the same time, there have been great distances with Therese Johaug in recent seasons, so it is not certain that distances are the point here,” Topranin says to NRK.

On the other hand, Guri Knotten, Norway’s FIS cross-country skiing committee representative, thinks that women and men should race the same distance. 

“At the same time, I have a great understanding that today’s skiers may have some reservations about changing a program,” says Knotten to NRK and continues:

“I do not know if it is correct to say that the active athletes are fighting against the proposal. Most people I talk to think equal distances are perfectly in place. And many welcome 50 kilometers and have stated that. It is a good and important decision,” Guri Knotten concludes.