Significant Changes for the Tour de Ski
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation has introduced several changes to the 17th edition of the Tour de Ski that will be held from December 31, 2022, to January 8, 2023. Â
This year, women and men will race the same distances on all stages in this winter’s Tour de Ski. Equal distances for women and men were adopted during the FIS Congress in Milan in May and will be introduced in the World Cup this winter, and the rules will also apply to Tour de Ski.
During the autumn FIS meetings in Zurich, Switzerland, the cross-country skiing committee adopted radical changes in several areas, including increasing prize money and the new distribution of World Cup points.
The prize money has been increased to 326.000 Swiss Francs, equally distributed for both genders, and awarded to the 20 best skiers.
Also, the overall cup winner now only gets 300 points, compared to 400 points previously. But the athletes finishing behind the winners can celebrate: third place now gives 270 points instead of 240, and the overall score for eighth place is 207 points instead of 128. Thus, an overall win in the Tour de Ski will not be as decisive for overall victory in the World Cup.
In addition, this winter’s Tour de Ski starts a few days later than usual in recent years.
The first stage takes place in Val MĂĽstair, Switzerland, on New Year’s Eve, December 31. There are two stages: a skating sprint and then a 10km classic pursuit.
The following two stages will be held in Oberstdorf, Germany, with a 10km classic and a 20km freestyle race, on January 3 and 4, respectively.
As usual, the Tour de Ski ends in Val di Fiemme, Italy.
Three stages will be held in Val di Fiemme on January 6, 7, and 8, and as usual, with the final stage up to Alpe Cermis.
TOUR DE SKI 2023 – Facts
Program day by day
- December 31: Val Müstair, Switzerland – Sprint freestyle
- January 1: Val MĂĽstair, Switzerland – 10km classic, pursuitÂ
- January 3: Oberstdorf, Germany – 10km classic
- January 4: Oberstdorf, Germany – 20km freestyle, pursuitÂ
- January 6: Val di Fiemme, Italy – Sprint classic
- January 7: Val di Fiemme, Italy – 15km classic, mass start
- January 8: Val di Fiemme, Italy – Final Climb Alpe Cermis freestyle, mass start