December 17, 2009 – The fourth edition of the Viessmann FIS Tour de Ski performance by Craft Sportswear will kick off in just 15 days now, on New Year’s day, January 1, 2010 featuring 10 days, 8 races, 4 venues in three countries – that comprises the Tour de Ski 2009/2010.

The start will be in Oberhof (GER) on 1st-3rd January with the prologue in the free technique and a handicap start race (that means that the athletes start with the time difference from the first Stage) over 10 km (women) and 15 km (men) in classical technique. The three-day-competition weekend will conclude on Sunday with a classical sprint. For the first time in the history of the Tour, a sprint is held in the classical technique. The program of the 2010 FIS Tour de Ski will continue already on 4th January with a sprint in Prague (CZE). This year, a new venue was found in Strahov, on the top of Prague close to the famous castle.

After the first rest day, the competitions will continue with a premiere. The first A to B race is on the schedule on 6th January. From Cortina d’Ampezzo to Toblach, the male athletes will be racing in a free technique handicap start over about 35 km. The ladies’ start will be at the “Drei-Zinnenblick” and finishes after about 16 km in the stadium of Toblach. On Thursday, 7th January, an individual start over 5 km and 10 km in classical technique will take place in Toblach.

After the second rest day, the Tour will conclude in the valley of ‘Fiemme’, the host of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in 2003 and 2013. On 9thJanuary 2010, the athletes will compete in a mass start race over 10 km (ladies) and 20 km (men) in classical technique. The last competition on 10th January, the already famous ‘Final Climb,’ will start in the Cross-Country Stadium Lago di Tesero and end on Alpe Cermis, with the last climb stretching over 3.7 km with an altitude climb of 425m. The ladies will race 9 km and the men 10 km in free technique.

The snow conditions are getting better and better everywhere. Oberhof is preparing the courses and producing snow as is Prague. Toblach has already good snow conditions and Val di Fiemme is also looking good. The fourth edition of the Viessmann FIS Tour de Ski performance by Craft Sportswear can start: We are ready – come and join us on the Tour 2009/2010!

More information: www.tour-de-ski.com and fiscrosscountry.com.

Starting times & program click here.