What: Tour de Ski in cross-country skiing, 20th edition.
When: December 28–January 4.
Where: Toblach and Val di Fiemme, Italy.
TV: Viaplay.
How: A total of six stages, the first four in Toblach, the final two in Val di Fiemme. The one with the best total time over all stages wins.
This is how it went last year: It was a double Norwegian victory. Therese Johaug took her fourth overall victory on the women's side, ahead of compatriot Astri Øyre Slind, with Ebba Andersson as the best Swede (6th, +4.56). On the men's side, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo won ahead of Austrian Mika Vermeulen. Edvin Anger was the best Swede in ninth, just under three minutes behind Klæbo.
Has a Swede won? Yes, but only twice. Charlotte Kalla won the second edition of the tour, in 2007–08, and Frida Karlsson won in 2022–23. On the men's side, Marcus Hellner has come closest, with a second-place finish in 2011–12.
New features: A completely new concept is being introduced with this year's third stage. It involves a kind of divided mass start, where the riders compete in four different 5-kilometer heats - and where the fastest time over all heats wins. The arrangement has met with some criticism, as some believe it will not be fair.
Prize money: The winner of both the women's and men's events will receive 80,000 euros, around 875,000 kronor. The overall runner-up will receive around 600,000 kronor and the third-place finisher will be awarded around 440,000 kronor.
Where are Jonna and Calle? Jonna Sundling has the qualities to challenge for the overall victory, but is opting out of the tour to focus on training for the Olympics. Worse for veterans like Calle Halfvarsson and Jens Burman, who have either underperformed significantly or been sick so far. They must now focus on the Scandinavian Cup in Finland after the turn of the year, where they must show results to have a chance of reaching the Olympics in February.
Swedish team, women: Ebba Andersson, Maja Dahlqvist, Lisa Eriksson, Johanna Hagström, Moa Ilar, Frida Karlsson, Moa Lundgren, Emma Ribom, Märta Rosenberg, Linn Svahn.
Men: Edvin Anger, Gustaf Berglund, Johan Ekberg, Jonas Eriksson, Truls Gisselman, Anton Grahn, Alvar Myhlback, William Poromaa, Eric Rosjö.
The program:
Sunday, December 28
11.45: sprint, freestyle, qualifications, women and men
14.15: sprint, final, women and men.
Monday, December 29
11.45: 10 kilometers, classic, individual start (h).
14.15: 10 kilometers (k), individual start (d).
Wednesday, December 31
11.30: 5 kilometres (f), mass start (h).
2:30 p.m.: 5 kilometers (f), mass start (d).
Thursday, January 1
10.30: 20 kilometers (k), hunting start (h).
12.30: 20 kilometers (k), hunting start (d).
Saturday, January 3
12.15: sprint (k), qualifying (d/h).
14.45: sprint (k), final (d/h).
Sunday, January 4
11.30: 10 kilometres (f), final climb up Alpe Cermis, mass start (h).
15.30: 10 kilometer (f), final climb up Alpe Cermis, mass start (d).
