December 31, 2009 (Oberhof, Germany) – The 4th edition of the Tour de Ski kicks off on Thursday, Jan. 1 amidst doping controversy and many last minute changes as countries shuffle the deck before the Stage 1 Prologue begins in Oberhof, Germany. Top skiers now competing include the likes of Tobias Angerer (Ger) and Tord Asle Gjerdalen (Nor), while other top skiers have opted to sit out the popular stage ski race modeled after the Tour de France.

Headliner women no-shows include: Marit Bjoergen (Nor), Charlotte Kalla and Anna Haag (Swe), Kristin Smigun-Vähi (Est) and Irina Khazova (Rus). On the men’s side the list of no-shows includes Anders Soedergren (Swe), John Kristian Dahl (Nor), Anders Aukland (Nor), Jens Svartedeal (Nor), Vassili Rotchev (Rus), Toni Livers (Sus), and Bjoern Lind (Swe) – and now Christian Hoffman (Aut) who is embroiled in a doping scandal.

Hoffman, Austria’s 2002 Olympic 30km cross-country skiing champion at Salt Lake (awarded the gold when winner Johann Muehlegg [Esp] was caught doping), was suspended with immediate effect on Thursday, Dec. 31, by the Austrian Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) over suspicions he is involved in a blood-doping ring, according to CTV Olympics.ca click HERE and the National Post – read more HERE.

Because of the suspension Hoffman will miss the 2010 Olympics. However, even were he were to be cleared in time he would not have enough points to qualify for the Games. “I have not been given the opportunity to try and prove my innocence,” said Hoffmann. “Winter is over for me. They are deliberately delaying things so I cannot qualify.”

Notable North Americans missing are Canada’s Chandra Crawford, who scratched due to sickness and is back in Canada. In total there will be 74 women and 88 men at the start on Jan 1.

– 2010 TdS final skier changes here.
– Women’s TdS 2010 Start List here.
– Men’s TdS 2010 Start List here.

With many big name on the sidelines the door is open for new skiers to top the final TdS podium in Italy on Jan. 10. Watch for teams with depth and skiers feisty enough to take on 8 races in 10 days – including two rest days – and strut their stuff in ‘hargie bargie” sprints and mass starts at the made-for-TV Tour de Ski.

Friday’s prologue – 2.8km for the women and 3.7km for the men – will set the tone according to FIS Race Director Jürg Capol, “The prologue is a short distance race and it’s a demanding track. Claudia Nystad (Ger) seems to be a specialist for this kind of course as she was the winner of the last three TdS prologues at this multi-stage event. After this stage we’ll begin to see how the picture of the big favourites is taking shape – even if tomorrow’s decision is only decided by seconds. Nobody will lose the TdS at the Prologue but it might give some skiers special confidence for the rest of the Tour.”

2010 TdS Schedule HERE.

The 4th Tour de Ski consists of eight races over 10 days in three countries and includes for the first time a classical sprint and a point-to-point race (from Cortina to Toblach, ITA). Tomorrow in the Prologue there will be bonus seconds awarded for the top three finishers (15-10-5 seconds) – more on the 2010 TdS here.

Trond Nystad presents the Prologue Course in Oberhof