[date} – The 6^th edition of the FIS Tour de Ski just concluded on the Alpe Cermis last Sunday, as the queen and the king of the season were crowned. However, preparations for the next editions have already begun.

As early as in Davos during the FIS Cross-Country World Cup races in December, the representatives of DSV, Swiss-Ski, F.I.S.I. and FIS came together to discuss the long-term planning of the Tour.

“The Cross-Country Committee set the task that the FIS Tour de Ski should travel to three countries. Last spring, Swiss-Ski nominated several resorts, which were thoroughly evaluated both from the organizational and logistical perspectives. In the 2012/13 season we will be travelling to Münstertal, the home valley of Dario Cologna,” FIS Cross-Country Race Director Jürg Capol explains. Val Müstair will organize the fourth stage of the Tour featuring a free technique sprint.

Traditionally, the FIS Tour de Ski 2012/13 will kick off in Oberhof, with a classical prologue on 28^th December. A classical sprint on Saturday and a short 5+5 km skiathlon for ladies and 10+10 km skiathlon for men will conclude the racing program in Germany.

This year, Toblach hosted three stages of the Tour but next year only the longest competition of the Tour will take place in South Tyrol; the famous men’s 35 km Cortina to Toblach pursuit competition and a 15 km race in free technique for the ladies.

What would the Tour de Ski be without Val di Fiemme? Even in the year of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2013 the ultimate two stages of the Tour will take place in Val di Fiemme. The classical technique mass start races, which proved to be crucial ones for positions before the Final Climb, are scheduled on 5^th January 2013.  The 7^th edition of the FIS Tour de Ski will find its winners one day later, on 6^th January on top of the final climb on Alpe Cermis.

The final FIS Cross-Country World Cup calendar 2012/13 including the FIS Tour de Ski 2012/13 must be approved at the World Cup and Continental Committee and by the FIS Council at the FIS Congress in Kangwonland, Korea at the end of May 2012.

You can find the long term FIS calendar plan at: http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/wc_calendar_cc1213-1516_long-term.pdf