December 18, 2008 – In just 10 days, the third edition of the Viessmann FIS Tour de Ski performance by Craft Sportswear will kick off in Oberhof (Ger). The famous winter sports center in the middle of Germany and home of several German top athletes is ready to host the 76 men and 64 women from 19 different nations. The snow situation in Oberhof is excellent and the weather forecast predicts more snow and cold weather. The Tour will kick off on 27th December with a prologue followed by a handicap start race on 28th December. Thereafter the Tour will move to Prague for a sprint and to Nove Mesto for two distance races. The Tour will conclude on January 3-4, 2009 in Val di Fiemme (ITA), with the spectacular final climb to Alpe Cermis.

To increase your excitement and bring you into Tour spirit, advance information from inside the Tour family will be communicated through the Tour blogs. Joining Tour father Vegard Ulvang, blogger already last year, is Pierre Mignerey – head coach of the French Team – along with Charlotte Kalla and Pietro Piller Cottrer, who are going to report regularly during the event. Please click here to read Pierre’s first Tour Blog.

What’s more, North America’s Nordic ski magazine, SkiTrax, has launched a Fantasy Tour de Ski 2008/09 Contest. It is the inaugural Tour contest with lots of great prizes. Make sure to register your team online by December 26 by clicking here.

For more information on the Tour, visit www.tour-de-ski.com