December 12, 2007 – In addition to hosting the first two stages of the Viessmann FIS Tour de Ski performance by Craft Sportswear, Nove Mesto (Cze) will also host stages four and five, which were originally planned for Oberstdorf (Ger) on January 1-2, 2008. The competition schedule will also be modified: the handicap start race, 10km (women) and 15km (men) in the free technique will take place on New Year’s Day and the interval start competitions in the classical technique will be held on January 2. The FIS Tour de Ski 2007/08 will consist of eight races in ten days, as planned.

“We are very pleased about the willingness of the Czech Ski Association and the organizing committee of Nove Mesto to step up and host a total of four of the Tour de Ski stages. With Nove Mesto, we have a very experienced and enthusiastic organizer willing to take over the two Tour stages from Oberstdorf. The Tour Stages in Nove Mesto and Prague will be a great opportunity for the Czech Ski Association to prepare and demonstrate its capabilities in view of the World Championships in Liberec next year. Logistically, too, Nove Mesto fits well into the plan,” said Jürg Capol, FIS Race Director Cross-Country.

FIS made this adaptation in the FIS Tour de Ski 2007/08 schedule following lengthy discussions with the German Ski Association that did not agree to organize two Stages of the Tour in Oberstdorf as planned.