On Saturday, the women’s 4×7.5km relay will mark the start of the team events in cross-country skiing, and once again, the spotlight is on the established Nordic powerhouses.

However, teams such as Switzerland, Germany, and Austria have quietly but steadily gained strength throughout this season – and could deliver the first cross-country skiing medal for the DACH region during the ongoing Olympic Games.

The field – season form and team strength

The 2025/2026 World Cup season has once again highlighted how tight the level of performance is at the top of women’s cross-country skiing – at least behind Frida Karlsson, who recently claimed another dominant Olympic gold medal in the 10km freestyle. Traditional favorites such as Sweden and Norway continue to dominate the individual races. Sweden underlined its current strength by not only sweeping the entire Olympic sprint podium but also finishing first and second in the 10km distance race last Thursday.

Switzerland – dark horse with great potential

Switzerland has shown this season that it can compete with the very best in team events. A sixth-place finish in a World Cup race with an almost full top-field lineup suggests that, with an optimal race, good daily form, and the right ski choice, a top-five result is absolutely realistic – and in the often unpredictable relay race, that can already be enough to fight for a medal.

Swiss athletes have also delivered strong individual results on several occasions this season – an important indicator for Saturday’s 4×7.5km relay. Nadja Kälin in particular attracted attention with her narrowly missed podium, finishing fourth in the skiathlon last Saturday. Athletes such as Marina Kälin, Anja Weber, and Nadine Fähndrich have also shown solid performances in the past. If the quartet works well together and each skier performs at their maximum, a surprise top result is certainly possible.

Germany – consistency and podium experience

Germany’s victory in the team sprint at the World Cup in Goms with Laura Gimmler and Coletta Rydzek highlighted the team’s sprinting strength. In addition, Germany already secured another strong fourth place in Davos in December, finishing close behind Norway and Sweden. These results underline the consistency and cohesion of the German team this season and make Germany a serious podium contender in the team sprint. On a good day, a medal is – and should be – a realistic goal.

In the 4×7.5km relay, however, the chances of a top result appear somewhat lower based on recent individual results. That said, with athletes such as Katharina Hennig, Laura Gimmler, Pia Fink, and Helen Hoffmann, all of whom have finished inside the top ten over a 10km race this season, anything is possible in a team relay.

Austria – outsiders with hope

Austria’s season has been marked by individual highlights, but compared to the top nations, depth within the squad remains a challenge. Results in World Cup team events have so far placed Austria behind the leading teams, and overall depth is smaller than that of Germany or Switzerland.

Nevertheless, Olympic team races are known for their drama, tactical twists, and strong dependence on external factors such as snow conditions, equipment, daily form of all athletes, and race dynamics. Austria’s strongest athletes can contribute solid individual legs – and if everything comes together perfectly, a push into the top eight battle is possible.

With Theresa Stadlober, who finished second overall in this year’s Tour de Ski, Austria has a consistently strong distance skier who clearly stands out within the Austrian women’s team. Behind her, however, there is a significant gap in the distance side, which makes a top relay result difficult.

The situation looks different in the team sprint. With the young and talented Heidi Bucher, who caused a stir early in the season in the Continental Cup and deservedly moved up to the World Cup, Austria has gained a strong new sprinter. She recently confirmed her potential by qualifying directly for the finals in the sprint event and finishing her Olympic debut in 29th place. Together with Magdalena Scherz, who has also already qualified for World Cup sprint finals this season, the two young athletes could be competitive on a good day.

FACTS 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games – Cross-Country Skiing

• When: Saturday 7, to Sunday, February 22, 2026
• Who: Elite national skiers – women and men
• Where: Val di Fiemme, Italy
• What: Milano-Cortina 2026

Saturday, February 7: 20km Skiathlon C/F Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 13:00 CET: 20km Skiathlon C/F, Women

Sunday, February 8: 20km Skiathlon C/F Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 12:30 CET: 20km Skiathlon C/F, Men

Tuesday, February 10: Sprint C Women and Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 9:15 CET: Sprint Quali C, Women
• 9:55 CET: Sprint Quali C, Men
• 11:45 CET: Sprint Final C, Women
• 12:15 CET: Sprint Final C, Men

Thursday, February 12: 10km Interval Start F Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 13:00 CET: 10km Interval F, Women

Friday, February 13: 10km Interval Start F Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:45 CET: 10km Interval F, Men

Saturday, February 14: 4×7.5km Relay C/F Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 12:00 CET: 4×7.5km Relay C/F, Women

Sunday, February 15: 4×7.5km Relay C/F Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 12:00 CET: 4×7.5km Relay C/F, Men

Wednesday, February 18: Team Sprint Women and Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 9:45 CET: Team Sprint F Quali, Women
• 9:45 CET: Team Sprint F Quali, Men
• 11:45 CET: Team Sprint F, Women
• 11:45 CET: Team Sprint F, Men

Saturday, February 21: 50km Mass Start C Men (More information can be found HERE)

• 11:00 CET: 50km Mass Start C, Men

Sunday, February 22: 50km Mass Start C Women (More information can be found HERE)

• 10:00 CET: 50km Mass Start C, Women

Complete program for the Winter Olympic Games can be found HERE

Val di Fiemme, a classic Nordic skiing venue, promises thrilling racing on courses steeped in Olympic history. Fans around the World will have the chance to cheer on athletes across all distances, from explosive sprints to grueling marathons.

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