Tour de Ski: The event highlight at the end of the year
After the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Final in March and the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in September, the third and last World Cup in the Lenzerheide holiday region is scheduled for 2021 between Christmas and New Year - this time in the sport of cross-country skiing.
Kick-off in Lenzerheide
For the organizers in Lenzerheide it is already the fifth event after 13/14, 15/16, 17/18 and 19/20, which is scheduled shortly before the turn of the year 21/22. Lenzerheide alternates every two years with Val Müstair as the Swiss venue for the Tour de Ski. The last time the event was held in 19/20, Lenzerheide attracted around 10,000 spectators. This year, 100 female and 125 male athletes from a total of 31 countries will take part. New participants are Argentina, Mongolia, and Nigeria.
Programme and racetracks
The centre of the Tour de Ski Lenzerheide is the Roland Arena in Lantsch/Lenz. With a large stadium and a functional Nordic House, the biathlon facility offers the perfect infrastructure for such a major event. The start and finish areas as well as the event area with catering are located here. After the training sessions the day before, the tour will begin on Tuesday, 28 December 2021, with a sprint for men and women in the free technique. On Wednesday, 29 December 2021, the women's race will be followed by a distance race over 10 km classic in the individual start. The men will complete 15 km shortly afterwards, also in the classic discipline and with an individual start.
Last Swiss appearance by Dario Cologna
Dario Cologna's appearance at this year's Tour de Ski Lenzerheide will be a special highlight, as it will be his last World Cup race on Swiss soil - and in his home canton. After the 2021/22 season, the best Swiss cross-country skier of all time will bid farewell to the World Cup stage. At his second-last home appearance at Davos Nordic in mid-December 2021, he was denied an exploit. Whether he will succeed in waving to his loyal and new fans from a podium position one last time at the start of the Tour de Ski remains to be seen. The Tour suits the 35-year-old in any case: he has already celebrated four victories in the overall standings, finished second once and third once.
Laurien van der Graaff from Graubünden will also retire after the current season. She celebrated a career highlight at the Tour de Ski Lenzerheide in 2017 with a victory in the sprint. The last of the bunch, Jovian Hediger from Aargau, will also be seen for the last time as a professional athlete at the Tour de Ski Lenzerheide in Switzerland. So it's well worth a visit if you want to cheer on these three retiring top athletes for the last time.
Event outside with 3G – inside with 2G
The Tour de Ski Lenzerheide will be held as a 3G event, as it will take place outdoors. In addition, the number of spectators is limited to 10,000 per day. Anyone wishing to visit indoor areas, this applies to parts of the VIP area as well as part of the public catering, requires a 2G status according to the latest guidelines. However, food stands in the outdoor area are also available.