FIS Tour de Ski - Less than 100 days to go

Thu, Oct  1, 2009 - By Jürg Capol. FIS

It's now less than 100 days to go until the Viessmann FIS Tour de Ski performance by Craft Sportswear will have its 4th edition. And that means it's time to update you on the activities we've undertaken in the last weeks, including a visit to all the Tour sites Oberhof, Prague, Toblach/Cortina and Val di Fiemme.

With Toblach/Cortina we have a new LOC involved and I can tell you, I'm looking forward to 6th January 2010. This new stage will start in the middle of the town in Cortina and follow the old railway track, including through two tunnels! The start is at 1200m above the sea level and the highest point is reached after approx. 14 km in Cimebanche at 1500 m. The course then passes the most famous mountains in the Dolomites, the "Tre Cime," and follows the track until Toblach. There, the OC is building a new stadium and the athletes will ski over the roof of the finish house, before adding another 3.3 km loop. The whole stage will be 35 km for men and 16 km for ladies, who will start with a view of the "Tre Cime".  Two helicopters and an airplane will help us produce unique TV pictures! We of course hope for an outstanding day and I'm sure this addition to the schedule will help promote winter sport from its best side.

As before, we have been focused on improving quality and with Oberhof carrying out the first three stages of the 4th Tour on 1st- 3rd January 2010, we think we have made further steps in the right direction. These are the first three days of the year and the event, and I'm convinced that we will reach high TV viewer figures. The final days will again see the traditional and experienced LOC in Val di Fiemme in action, and I don't want to reveal too much today, but their target is to increase the on-site audience by 50%. Last season we had 20'000 spectators at the final stage to Alpe Cermis. I'm again looking forward to seeing a lot of Tifosi and fans of the Nordic sports there.

So, at this point it should be clear that we plan to start the New Year from 1st- 10th January 2010 with 10 days of celebration of Cross-Country Skiing and intend to use those to reach many new Nordic fans. Hope you'll come and join the 4th Tour!