Russian cross-country skier Yulia Stupak calls it quits for Tour de Ski after two stages.

Yulia Stupak was 15th in the Tour de Ski opening sprint race in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, yesterday. Today she was seventh in the extremely challenging 10-kilometer classic race. 

Last season, Stupak was second overall in the 2021 Tour de Ski, Today, the 26-year-old Russian announced that she is done with the 2022 Tour de Ski. Stupak is already named to the Russian team to the 2022 Olympics. She has decided to quit the stage race in order to prepare for the upcoming winter games in Beijing. 

On her Instagram account, Stupak published the following post: 

“Friends, as planned I am leaving the Tour. 2021 has been a wonderful year, and thanks to your support, we have achieved great things. I hope the new year brings us so much happiness. We have to believe in our dreams, believe in miracles and take advantage of all our little pleasures. I love you all, even those of you who will write nasty things under my post.”

Tour de Ski now moves on to Oberstdorf, Germany, for Tour de Ski stage 3 and 4 on December 31 and January 1.  Stage 3 features a 10-kilometer mass start skate race for women and 15-kilometer mass start skate race for men. Stage 4 features classic sprint races for both men and women. 

Check out the Tour de Ski 2021/22 day-by-day schedule and ProXCskiing.com’s predictions for the overall stage race: Who Will Win Tour de Ski? 

Curious about where to watch Tour de Ski in your area? We got you covered! 

FACTS: Tour de Ski 2021/22 

• Tour de Ski 2021/22 starts in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, on December 28 and concludes in Val di Fiemme, Italy, on January 4. 
• The race consists of six stages in eight days. Here are all the Tour de Ski details and the day-by-day schedule
• Tour de Ski 2021/22 is the 16th edition of the brutal stage race. These are the winners from the previous 15 Tour de Ski events. 
• The overall winners get 400 World Cup points for the Tour de Ski, which consists of six stages in eight days. Stage winners get 50 World Cup points. Accordingly, there are potentially 700 World Cup points for winning every stage of the Tour de Ski, which would determine the overall World Cup for the season.