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. 

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).  

Women’s Olympic Champions – Team Sprint 

• 2006: Sweden, (Lina Andersson, Anna Dahlberg) 
• 2010: Germany, (Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle, Claudia Nystad) 
• 2014: Norway, (Ingvild Flugstad Østberg, Marit Bjørgen) 
• 2018: USA, (Kikkan Randall, Jessica Diggins) 
• 2022: Germany, (Katharina Hennig, Victoria Carl) 

Women’s World Champions – Team Sprint 

• 2005: Norway, (Hilde G. Pedersen, Marit Bjørgen) 
• 2007: Finland, (Riitta-Liisa Roponen, Virpi Kuitunen) 
• 2009: Finland, (Aino-Kaisa Saarinen, Virpi Kuitunen) 
• 2011: Sweden, (Ida Ingemarsdotter, Charlotte Kalla) 
• 2013: USA, (Jessica Diggins, Kikkan Randall) 
• 2015: Norway, (Ingvild Flugstad Østberg, Maiken Caspersen Falla) 
• 2017: Norway, (Heidi Weng, Maiken Caspersen Falla) 
• 2019: Sweden, (Stina Nilsson, Maja Dahlqvist) 
• 2021: Sweden, (Maja Dahlqvist, Jonna Sundling) 
• 2023: Sweden, (Emma Ribom, Jonna Sundling) 
• 2025: Sweden, (Jonna Sundling, Maja Dahlqvist) 

FAVORITES 

Sweden 

A triple in the individual sprint. A double in skiathlon. Of course, Sweden will win this one. They have had good skis, too, and the only thing that can deny them the gold is a crash, broken poles or skis, or if they get too sure about the gold. But they haven’t won the Team Sprint in the Olympics since 2006. Germany surprisingly beat them in Beijing four years ago. 

OUTSIDERS 

Germany 

Look out for the team that impressed in the last World Cup before the Olympics. Laura Gimmler and Coletta Rydzek won in Goms, and Rydzek is very hard to beat in the last 100 meters. 

USA 

Jessie Diggins has won both the Olympics and the World Championships with Kikkan Randall. They took the Olympic gold in PyeongChang 8 years ago and the World here in Val di Fiemme in 2013. But it’s hard to see them beating Sweden.  

Switzerland 

They didn’t really live up to the expectations in the individual sprint, but skating suits this team better. They know they have been on the podium at the World Cup, and they have surprised earlier. 

Finland 

One of the biggest chances for a Finnish cross-country medal in Val di Fiemme. Jasmi Joensuu won the sprint World Cup last season, and she also won the sprint on this course at the Tour de Ski. They are thirsty for medals; the opportunity does not come every day for the Finnish team. 

Norway 

Did well in Davos before Christmas, and it’s hard to see a relay without Norway in the mix. But they are not the hottest favorites here. Mathilde Myrvold was injured during the Tour de Ski and missed the Olympics. She would probably have been a name for this race. 

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

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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