The eagerly anticipated Tour de Ski is set to kick off on December 28, 2024, with eager athletes and ski fans alike gearing up for what promises to be an intense and thrilling series of races. This year, the Tour, now entering its 19th edition, will take place entirely within Italy, marking a shift from past events which have included multiple host countries.
Starting with freestyle sprints at Toblach, the event will span over nine days, concluding with the prestigious Final Climb on January 5, 2025, at Val di Fiemme. Notably, the race schedule features various formats including mass starts, interval starts, and pursuit races, contributing to the multifaceted nature of the competition.
The line-up of participants will include elite national skiers, with Finland fielding its strongest squad yet. The Finnish team, announced on December 19, consists of five women and six men, including notable athletes like Kerttu Niskanen and Krista Pärmäkoski. Unfortunately, Finnish skier Perttu Hyvärinen has confirmed he will not take part due to health issues following recent competitions. Hyvärinen expressed, "Davosin joulu [Christmas] was spent, and I’m heading home as I don’t feel fit enough for the Tour." His absence is tough as he was last year’s 10-kilometer race champion in the Tour.
Germany, too, faces significant setbacks. Katharina Hennig will miss the entire Tour de Ski due to illness, which is another notable gap as she was one of the top contenders for the national team. Germany’s hopes now rest on Victoria Carl, who aims to exceed last year's highest finish by any German female skier, Hennig's fifth-place finish.
Sweden will also be without star athlete Calle Halfvarsson, who is sidelined due to back pain. The Swedish team is reeling from this last-minute withdrawal, losing both Halfvarsson and previously noted skiers like Jonna Sundling and Frida Karlsson. Halfvarsson’s doctor reported he is recovering well but deemed the upcoming Tour too strenuous at this stage. Eric Rosjö will step up to take Halfvarsson's place.
France's Delphine Claudel will miss the competitions as well; she previously excelled at the Alpe Cermis climb. While Claudel has not yet claimed the Tour de Ski title, her performance is always one to watch. French skier Hugo Lapalus will aim to repeat last year's success, where he finished among the top three.
One of the most exciting adjustments this year is the introduction of new leader jerseys. Seasoned fans of the Tour will notice the change from the classic red jersey, which the overall leader would typically wear, to a gold one. Alongside the gold jersey for the overall leader, the competition will also feature silver for the sprint standings and violet for the climber standings, which are new additions this year. These changes aim to increase interest and engagement among fans by introducing internal competitions within the Tour.
Prize money is another significant update for participants. The total prize pool for this year's competition has reached CHF 770,000 (approximately €821,000), which remains impressive even compared to prior years. The overall winners will each receive CHF 85,000, marking the highest payout for top positions yet.
Fans eager to follow the action should mark their calendars. The series kicks off with sprint qualifications at noon on December 28, followed by the finals later the same day. Athletes will battle through various stages, including the significant 10km mass start race concluding the event.
Past Tour de Ski editions have attracted considerable attention for their fierce competition and athlete performance, but the changes this year are poised to bring even more excitement. With the adaptation of formats and innovative prize distribution, the 2024-2025 Tour de Ski is shaping up to be unlike any other.
Stay tuned as the competitors take to the snow, bringing not just their skills, but their passion for the sport. It's time for skiing enthusiasts worldwide to rally behind their favorite athletes as they compete fiercely across the Italian terrain.
