On January 14–17, 2027, cross-country skiers from around the world will once again gather in the Engadin for four days of racing in one of Switzerland’s most spectacular winter landscapes. For the participants, race day begins when they clip into their skis at the starting line. For Course Director and Race Director Florian Wohlwend and his team, however, the journey starts many months earlier.  

Preparing for January – months in advance  

There is a simple reason why preparations begin long before the first snowflakes fall.  

“On the one hand, anticipation is the greatest joy,” Wohlwend says. “But more importantly, the final two or three weeks before the race are incredibly intense. Everything that doesn’t necessarily have to be done in winter should ideally be prepared in advance. The better our preparations are, the more calmly we can react to the unexpected.”  

Long before the first tracks are groomed, much of the groundwork is already taking place behind the scenes. Discussions are held with partners such as Toko, local sports shops and the municipalities along the course. Key volunteers are contacted to secure their support for another edition, replacements are organised where necessary, and lessons from previous years are transformed into concrete improvements.  

The aim is simple: when winter arrives, the team needs to be ready. Because in the Engadin, nature always has the final say. The Goal: 55 Kilometers in Perfect Condition  

The flagship La Diagonela takes participants on a 55-kilometer journey through some of the most beautiful parts of the Engadin. Preparing such a course in a high-Alpine environment is never routine.  

“No winter is the same,” Wohlwend explains. “Every year there are sections where preparation becomes challenging because there is either too much or too little snow. Our goal is always to present the original 55-kilometer course in impeccable condition.”  

But experience has taught the organising team to be prepared for almost anything.  

“Over the years, we have developed plans B through H”  

Behind the quality of the race course is a team with enormous experience. The Engadin regularly hosts some of the biggest events in international cross-country skiing, including the FIS Cross-Country World Cup, the Engadin Skimarathon and Engadin La Diagonela.  

According to Wohlwend, this experience makes a crucial difference.  

“We have absolute professionals working on the trails in the Engadin. Our groomers have tremendous know-how when it comes to preparing a race course at world-class level. At that point, it’s all about the small details.”  

But perfect tracks alone are not enough. Safety is another priority. Potential danger zones must be identified, secured, and clearly marked for race day. There is also another challenge: creating a course that works for two very different groups. “We try to find the right balance between professional and recreational skiers, because both groups have different expectations of a race course.”  

Stazerwald – beautiful, challenging and unpredictable  

Ask Wohlwend which section presents the greatest challenge, and the answer comes quickly: Stazerwald. The forest between Pontresina, Celerina and St. Moritz is one of the most beautiful sections of the course – but also one of the most sensitive.  

“This beautiful area is a moorland landscape of national importance,” Wohlwend explains. “There are strict regulations regarding the conditions under which tracks can be prepared there, which means it is not possible every year.”  

When conditions allow the original route through Stazerwald, however, participants are rewarded with one of the great highlights of La Diagonela.  

“The editions that include the Stazerwald–St. Moritz–Stazerwald passage are all the more spectacular. Even the professionals have often used this section to launch decisive attacks.”  

It is a perfect example of what makes Engadin La Diagonela different: the race course is not simply placed into the landscape – it is shaped by it.  

240 kilometers of cross-country paradise  

For Wohlwend, what makes cross-country skiing in the Engadin exceptional can be summarised in two words: quality and quantity.  

More than 240 kilometers of prepared trails stretch across a landscape that offers an extraordinary variety of cross-country skiing experiences.  

“There is something for everyone,” says Wohlwend. “From the completely flat kilometres across the Upper Engadin lakes to extremely challenging climbs into Val Fex, Alp Staz or towards the Morteratsch Glacier, and the magical, dreamlike landscapes of Val Roseg and Stazerwald.” Engadin La Diagonela brings many of these contrasts together in a single race.  

For those tackling the full 55 kilometers, the reward is a journey through some of the most iconic landscapes in the valley before the spectacular final challenge towards the historic village centre of Zuoz. As Wohlwend puts it: “Anyone who wants to experience the highlights packed into 55 kilometerss, including a spectacular finish in Zuoz, should register for La Diagonela 2027 today.”  

New for 2027: More Ski Classics action in the Engadin  

The 2027 edition will bring exciting changes to the race weekend.  

On Sunday, La Sfida will have a new permanent finish in Pontresina. Participants familiar with the race from the previous two editions may already recognise much of the course.  

“We have basically turned Plan B into Plan A and permanently moved the finish to Pontresina,” Wohlwend explains. At the same time, the Engadin will provide the stage for an additional Ski Classics elite TV race.   

The new elite competition will take the professional field on a shorter course from Zuoz to St. Moritz/Celerina, the village where the world-famous St. Moritz–Celerina Olympia Bob Run finishes. The exact course still holds a few surprises, but Wohlwend already expects a very different racing dynamic compared with the demanding 55-kilometre La Diagonela.  

“It will be a relatively easy race for the professionals, although there will of course be one or two surprises along the route. It could lead to a spectacular final sprint.” With La Sfida and an additional elite race, Sunday will add another exciting chapter to a weekend that combines recreational cross-country skiing with international top-level competition.  

The people behind the perfect tracks  

For a Course Director, one might expect the greatest source of pride to be a perfectly groomed trail or a successful race day. For Wohlwend, it is something else entirely. “Every year I get goosebumps all over my body and tears of joy in my eyes when I see how many volunteers give up their free time and do incredibly important work to make our dream possible.”  

Hundreds of hours of work take place away from the television cameras and outside the view of most participants. Behind every course marking, every prepared section, and every successful race day are people who dedicate their time to the event. “They are amazing personalities, and every year friendships are formed that go far beyond La Diagonela. I am incredibly proud of our volunteers.”  

The same applies to the organising committee 

“Especially during the two weeks before the race, everyone is under enormous pressure. The fact that everything still runs so efficiently, professionally and, above all, in such a friendly spirit is anything but something we can take for granted.”  

Perhaps that is ultimately what defines Engadin La Diagonela: world-class trails and spectacular landscapes are part of the experience, but behind them stands a team united by a shared passion for cross-country skiing.  

Register before the price increase  

The next Engadin La Diagonela takes place from January 14-17, 2027, offering races for different levels and ambitions – from the legendary 55-kilometer classic race to shorter distances and the freestyle challenge on Sunday.  

For anyone already dreaming of their next winter adventure, now is a particularly good time to secure a starting place: entry fees will increase on November 1, 2026. Register by October 31 to benefit from the current, lower entry fee.  

Experience world-class trails, the spectacular winter landscape of the Engadin, and a race weekend created by people who live and breathe cross-country skiing.  

Register now for Engadin La Diagonela 2027: www.ladiagonela.ch