December 31, 2015 (Lenzenheide, Switzerland) – The 1oth annual edition of the Viessmann FIS Tour de Ski (TdS) performance by Craft sportswear starts in Lenzenheide, Switzerland on Jan 1.  There are eight days of competitions, with four venues in three countries, finishing with the traditional punishing climb up the alpine hill at Alpe Cermis in Val di Fiemme, Italy. Warm temperatures have forced organizers to adjust the tracks and starting times to ensure good conditions for the athletes.

Cross-Country Canada (CCC)’s Team is made up of Ivan Babikov, Alex Harvey, Devon Kershaw, and Len Valjas with no Canadian women competing. Graeme Killick was scheduled to participate but has withdrawn due to illness. The team stayed in Europe over Christmas in preparation for the Tour, one of the key goals for the team – strong results and podium positions are anticipated.

“The TdS is a competition that’s so near and dear to my heart. I can’t believe that this is my 10th TdS start,” said Devon Kershaw. “To have so many disciplines and distances all combined together to find the best overall skier over a 10 day period makes the TdS unique. I have had so many highlights over the years here at the Tour – most importantly my first ever World Cup win (2011 in Toblach, ITA), and hitting the podium in the first-ever stage of the first-ever edition of the Tour (a silver medal in Munich, GER) back in 2006. I just love the event.”

Cross Country Ski de Fond Canada has also assembled a closely-knit all-Canadian wax team of six techs under the leadership of Yves Bilodeau and Joel Jaques who boast extensive experience at past Tour de Ski events. With no margin for error allowed on ski preparation if you want to contend for the overall Tour lead, the Canadians will have one of the best athlete-to-wax tech ratios for each Tour stage.

For the first time in history, the world’s best cross-country ski athletes will also meet in Canada, March 1-12, for a second Tour to crown the overall FIS World Cup champion. The Ski Tour of Canada will feature eight days of competition over 12 days at four iconic Canadian ski venues in Quebec and Alberta. The first week of racing will feature four stages in Quebec (Gatineau, Montreal and Quebec City), while the Tour will then travel west for the final four stages and awarding of the FIS crystal globes in Canmore, Alberta.

Team Canadian @ Tour de Ski
Ivan Babikov (Canmore, Alta.)
Alex Harvey (St.-Ferreol, Qué.)
Devon Kershaw (Sudbury, Ont.)
Len Valjas (Toronto)
Graeme Killick, (Fort McMurray, Alta.)   sick
Justin Wadsworth – Head Coach

Tour de Ski Schedule

Friday, Jan. 1
– Lenzerheide, Switzerland
– 1.5k Freestyle Sprints

Saturday, Jan. 2
– Lenzerheide, Switzerland
– 30/15k Classic Mass Start

Sunday, Jan. 3
– Lenzerheide, Switzerland
– 10/5k Freestyle Pursuit

Tuesday, Jan. 5
– Oberstdorf, Germany
– Classic Sprint

Wednesday, Jan 6
– Oberstdorf, Germany
– 15/10k Classic mass start

Friday, Jan 8
– Toblach, Italy
–  10/5k Freestyle Individual Start

Saturday, Jan 9
– Val di Fiemme, Italy
– 15/10k Classic Mass Start

Sunday, Jan 10
– Val di Fiemme, Italy
– 9k Freestyle Pursuit