December 09, 2011 (Davos, Switzerland) – The Viessemann FIS World Cup moves to Davos, Switzerland, this weekend for individual start skate distance races on Saturday and individual skate sprints on Sunday. After last weekend’s sprint showcase in Dusseldorf, GER, the start lists in Davos will be filled with the names of the sport’s top all-round competitors and distance specialists.

Much of the build-up toward Davos this week has been the preoccupation with snow conditions and race formats. Snow conditions have been poor in Davos, as in much of the rest of Europe, prompting FIS and the organizing committee to announce earlier this week that the 15km and 30km distance formats would be shortened due to the lack of snow on the traditional 7.5km loop used for these distances.

FIS announced last Tuesday that the distance races would be run on a 5km loop, with the women racing 10km instead of 15km and the men racing 15km instead of 30km. Many of the circuit’s distance specialists were disappointed with FIS’s decision, although other athletes were somewhat relieved, given their unfamiliarity with such a lengthy individual start race format, which has not been seen on the World Cup for some time. “This is baloney,” tweeted Canada’s Ivan Babikov after the announcement, “I was really looking forward to 30km skate WC race in Davos and they shortened it to 15km. Boooo.”

On Thursday, however, the Davos region received a 30cm dump of fresh snow. The sudden reversal of fortune prompted FIS and the organizing committee to reinstate the original distance race formats of 15km and 30km on the 7.5km loop.

“We are pleased that we finally could decide to have the individual races over the long distances of 30km and 15km on Saturday, ” said Jürg Capol, FIS Race Director Cross-Country, in a FIS press release. “The OC and TV showed a great flexibility this morning to change the plan and we will be back on the old traditional course.”

Saturday’s individual start distance races could prove very interesting, with the long distance time trial format somewhat of a rarity on the World Cup these days. Athletes like Petter Northug of Norway, who excels at mass start races and has a devastating final kick, will not be able to rely on his principal weapon in this race. With some athletes ill or sitting out Saturday’s race, just 83 men will hit the start line. Swedish distance specialist, Johan Olsson, whom many considered a favourite after his convincing win in the 15km in Sjusjoen, has pulled out due to illness. Individual pacing strategies will be key over the somewhat longer than usual distances.

On the women’s side, we could well see another Norwegian sweep, and it will be interesting to watch teammates Marit Bjoergen and Therese Johaug compete in the 15km F, after their epic battle in the 30km at last year’s Oslo World Championships, which Johaug won.

Among the North Americans, some will be looking for redemption in the distance events after a very poor showing here last year, especially on the women’s side. Kikkan Randall was the top North American women in last year’s 10km Classic, finishing 47th. With the US women doing relatively well in distance racing so far this year, we should see much better results from the four women who have entered. Joining Randall at the start gate will be Liz Stephen, Holly Brooks and Sadie Bjornsen.

The Canadian women will not race on Saturday in order to stay fresh for Sunday’s sprint event – some pundits wonder if they’re avoiding distance races. “Being primarily sprinters, a 15km individual start would definitely take a bit off the edge for them,” according to Canada’s Head Coach, Justin Wadsworth, in a telephone interview with SkiTrax earlier today. “If it had been a 10km we would have looked at it.”

The North American men fared much better in Davos last year, with Canada’s Devon Kershaw 9th and the USA’s Kris Freeman 23rd in the 15k classic. Kershaw will sit out tomorrow’s 30km, however, along with teammate Alex Harvey, to stay rested for the Tour de Ski. The decision to forego the 30km race is one that was apparently made quite some time ago.

“This is something that we’ve looked at for a long time,” according to Wadsworth, “and when we look at the overall season and the Tour de Ski, in particular, and next weekend as well, so there’s a few factors involved here, we really feel that it’s the best overall decision.”

“It’s not an easy decision by any means,” Wadsworth conceded, “because they’re both in great shape right now, and I think they could both ski well tomorrow, but when you look at the impact on their training, plus next weekend’s 15km mass start race in Rogla, which will be one of the best opportunities for them, this makes the most sense.”

The Canadian distance specialists who will race tomorrow are Ivan Babikov and Graham Nishikawa. Babikov has excelled at hard skate distance races in the past and should challenge for a top 20. The US will field four men – Kris Freeman, Tad Elliott, Noah Hoffman; and Lars Flora who will be looking to improve on their performances so far.

Sunday’s sprint races will feature some exciting match-ups. Norway’s Marit Bjoergen and the USA’s Kikkan Randall will go head to head for bragging rights as the top skate sprinter on the World Cup. Bjoergen won here last year, while Randall was third. Each has a World Cup sprint victory to their credit so far this season, so Davos will be a grudge match of sorts.

On the men’s side, last year’s winner Emil Joenssen (SWE) is still out with an injury, but his teammate Teodor Peterson will be one to watch, with victories in Kuusamo and Dusseldorf (team sprint) to his credit already this year. And watch for the Swiss men, such as Eligius Tambornino, who were a bit of a revelation last weekend in Dusseldorf by putting 3 in the top 11, not to mention hometown favourite Dario Cologna, who was third here last year.

Canadian coach Justin Wadsworth was extremely bullish on the Canada’s chances as well. “On Sunday we’re going to have a lot of horses in those races, and honestly I wouldn’t be surprised to see all three guys make the final on Sunday.”

See start lists for Saturday HERE.

See the FIS video about the return to the original distance format, along with reaction from athletes like Tobias Angerer (GER) and Canada’s Devon Kershaw HERE.