"Lotta woke up on Christmas Day with a sore throat and will have to give up this year's tour," says national team doctor Ove Feragen in a press release from the Norwegian Ski Association.
Norwegian Lotta Udnes Weng was selected for this year's Tour de Ski - which is being held in Italy - along with Heidi Weng, Astrid Øyre Slind and Karoline Simpson-Larsen, among others. Eva Ingebrigtsen, who leads the Scandinavian Cup, is also in the squad.
Udnes Weng will be replaced by 25-year-old Nora Sanness, who is on her way to Toblach, where the competition begins.
This year's Tour de Ski starts on Sunday and runs until January 4th.
