Endurance or sprint? Team Sprint poses some interesting questions about which skiers to use for this event. The pure sprinters will probably be too tired when they have to race three times the 1.5km course with very little rest in between.

And before that, they need to complete the individual qualification, where the 15 fastest teams will advance to the final. 

The distance skiers will probably have few problems with the three laps. The question here is whether they are quick enough or if some sprinters can follow all the way to the final straight. 

No problem for Norway, though. They have Klæbo, and he is the best in both disciplines! 

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

• 9:45 CET: Team Sprint F Quali, Women
• 10:15 CET: Team Sprint F Quali, Men
• 11:45 CET: Team Sprint F, Women
• 12:15 CET: Team Sprint F, Men

The start lists can be found HERE

ABOUT WEDNESDAY’S RACE 

The Team Sprint has changed in recent seasons. Today, there is an individual race in the prologue, not heats as before. The first skier on each team is racing individually through the course. Then the group with the second skier, and the times for the two athletes on that team, are added together. 

The 15 fastest total times are qualified for the final. 

The final starts as a normal relay with a mass start for the first skiers in each team. They switch to the second, so everybody is racing three laps each, a total of 6 laps (3×2).  

The first team to finish wins the Team Sprint. This year, the Olympic Team Sprint is skied in freestyle technique (skating)

Men’s Olympic Champions – Team Sprint 

• 2006: Sweden, (Thobias Fredriksson, Björn Lind) 
• 2010: Norway, (Øystein Pettersen, Petter Northug Jr.) 
• 2014: Finland, (Iivo Niskanen, Sami Jauhojärvi) 
• 2018: Norway, (Martin Johnsrud Sundby, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo) 
• 2022: Norway, (Erik Valnes, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo) 

Men’s World Champions – Team Sprint 

• 2005: Norway, (Tore Ruud Hofstad, Tor-Arne Hetland) 
• 2007: Italy, (Renato Pasini, Cristian Zorzi) 
• 2009: Norway, (Ola Vigen Hattestad, Johan Kjølstad) 
• 2011: Canada, (Devon Kershaw, Alex Harvey) 
• 2013: Russia, (Aleksei Petukhov, Nikita Kriukov) 
• 2015: Norway, (Finn-Hågen Krogh, Petter Northug Jr.) 
• 2017: Russia, (Nikita Kriukov, Sergej Ustiugov) 
• 2019: Norway, (Emil Iversen, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo) 
• 2021: Norway, (Erik Valnes, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo) 
• 2023: Norway, (Pål Golberg, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo) 
• 2025: Norway, (Erik Valnes, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo) 

FAVORITES 

Norway 

The most difficult for Norway is probably choosing the partner for Johannes Høsflot Klæbo. They certainly have more than 10 athletes who can fill that spot. Four straight wins in the World Champs and 3 out of 5 Olympic golds. 

It must be an accident or a crash if Norway does not win again.   

OUTSIDERS  

Sweden 

Good history in this discipline. But so far, the Swedes have not shown anything looking like a medal here. Sprinters Alvar Myhlback and Anton Grahn have left the Olympics, and it will be tough to take a medal.  

USA 

Motivation is high after Ben Ogden’s silver in the individual sprint. The USA hasn’t really been challenging Norway in the Team Sprints, but with their team spirit, they might be able to fight for medals. 

France 

Several good sprinters, but it’s a while since they have shown top form. Lucas Chanavat got a lot of the pre-season destroyed with injuries, and they would need him on top here. Anyway, a contender for a medal. 

Italy 

Skating suits the home team much better than classic. But do they have good enough skis on their own snow?  Pellegrino’s probably last chance to shine again in the Olympics, and he will for sure do all to be up there.  

Switzerland 

Not a surprise if they are in the mix. Both Valerio Grond and Janik Riebli delivered top results in free technique. If they can all put together, get good skis, and have a little bit of luck, they can also be a team aiming for the podium. 

You will find the start list HERE

Cross-country skiing schedule – Olympics 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
• 10:15 CET: Team Sprint F Quali, Men
• 11:45 CET: Team Sprint F, Women
• 12:15 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

The complete program for the Winter Olympic Games can be found HERE

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