Finally A 'World' Cup

FasterSkier · March 15, 2005

Source: Langrenn.com

The International Ski Federation (FIS) has made some big changes in the World Cup schedule for next season. Vernon, British Columbia and Canmore, Alberta have a week of races in December, the Vasaloppet is included, and the season finally will be in Asia.

The cross country World Cup season starts as normal with sprint races in Dusseldorf, Germany in October. The regular World Cup opening is again at Beitostolen, Norway. Individual classic race and relay is on the agenda for November 19 and 20.

Vernon, British Columbia and Canmore, Alberta have a whole week of races starting December 10.

The World Cup continues right after New Year with races in Helsinki and Otepaa. Well-known sites as Val di Fiemme and Oberstdorf are hosting races in the middle of January.

The last World Cup stop and final chance for fine tuning before the Olympics is Davos, Switzerland.

The Olympics are February 12 to 26.

The Swedish Vasaloppet 90-kilometer classic race is, for the first time ever, a part of the World Cup on March 4 and 5. The women will race 45-kilometers on Saturday and the men 90-kilometers on Sunday.

Sprint in Drammen, Norway is up next the week after Vasaloppet and classic in Holmenkollen, Norway after that.

Falun, Sweden follows Holmenkollen.

The World Cup finally will take place in Asia with sprint in Changchun, China and two events in Saporro, Japan at the end of March. These races will also be pre-Worlds.