The FIS Ski Tour 2020 awaits

The FIS Cross-Country family headed north to Östersund (SWE) for another highlight of the 2019/20 season; the FIS Ski Tour 2020. The organizers behind this unique tour format is Tour 2020 AB, a corporation that resulted from a partnership of the the Swedish and the Norwegian Ski Federation. Both agreed to focus on sustainability of the competitions and events around the World Cup stages.

One major aspect regarding this will be the mandatory train transport for all participating athletes. With VY, the Swedish/Norwegian transportation company as the head sponsor of the event, the FIS Ski Tour 2020 has the perfect partnership to ensure the respective service. But the motivatin of the organizers to develop the event in a sustainable way goes beyond the transportation aspects. The FIS Ski Tour 2020 is challenging regular World Cup organizer and sports needs and makes an effort in changing them into sustainable solutions. Throughout the process, the team orientates on six goals of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Regulations regarding the participation for the FIS Ski Tour 2020 are as the FIS Tour the Ski: the athletes need to compete in all competitions in order to be able to continue the Tour. All details regarding the FIS Ski Tour 2020 rules can be found in the World Cup rules including the Stage Tours Cross-Country (from page 49).

The FIS Ski Tour 2020 is settled into the heart of the Scandinavian skiing world. Launching in the ski stadium of Östersund (SWE), the tour will start off on Saturday, 15th February with a 10/15km in Free technique and a 10/15km pursuit in classic technique on Sunday, 16th February.

With only one rest day on Monday, the competition goes on in a well known FIS World Cup venue. But instead of the FIS Alpine family, Åre will be the venue for the FIS Cross-Country family and host some sprint spectacle on Tuesday, 18th February. The sprint course will be set up in the bottom of the ski slope of Swedens national alpine ski area of Åre.

The tour continues on the 20th February with the legendary crossing of the international boarder between Storlien in Sweden (start) and Meråker in Norway (finish). Not only a course of 38km await the skiers, but also the fact that there will be no coaching or feeding zones for the majority of the course. The skiers will have to carry their own nutrition. 
Upon arrival in Meråker, the athletes continue all by train to Trondheim, the final destination of the Tour.

The final stages of the Ski Tour 2020 will take place in the Granåsen ski stadium where the FIS Cross-Country athletes will meet the FIS Nordic Combined athletes for a Nordic weekend.

For Saturday, 22nd February a Sprint in classic technique stands on the programme. Sunday's grand final will be the 15/30km pursuit in classic style.

The Ski Tour 2020 leads through many of the Scandinavian Cross-Country athletes training areas and homes as well as centers for nordic skiing. With the tour, the FIS Cross-Country season is looking forward to this exciting tour format and wishes all competitors best of luck!