First of all congratulations to all athletes for excellent performances, and to sponsors, organisers and all other contributors who really made the fourth edition of the Tour de Ski to a fantastic event for all CC fans. No doubt about it, all feedback so far shows that this fourth edition of the Tour really took another step forward. As expected when different skills are deciding the final results, the Tour is followed by a debate on the overall composition of the Tour. How much classic? How much skating? How many sprints and where to give out bonus points are among the many questions that are being discussed on the different CC web pages just now. We got the different CC skill very well illustrated in the final two competitions for the men. In the beginning of the 20 km mass start Petter Nordthug was playing with his sprint skills in his fight for the bonus seconds against Lukas Bauer. While only one lap later, and in the last climb on Sunday, Lukas Bauer kicked back with his incredible endurance strength. The discussion is good. The CC Committee will get together all important inputs from all major stakeholders before we meet in Turkey in the beginning of June. I hope the engagement is kept warm through the spring and that all comments will be brought forward to the national committee members before next year's program is decided in June. It is too late to complain when the snow is falling again next winter. I am really happy that the Tour in just four years has developed to such a major event and meeting place outside our Championships. This year's newcomer, the race from Cortina to Toblach was well received by most athletes and media. New ideas and new places will also in future be tested but most important is that the basic concept has proved to work. The next major step is a Tour World Championship every fourth year. We can just hope for support from the Congress in Turkey in June. Next stop for me is Vancouver Olympics, until then enjoy your skiing.
Vegard
3 Comments
Comment by WorldofXC.com
Sunday 17 January 2010 12:01
I think the Tour de Ski has got a very nice balance between the different disciplines now. The bonus seconds work very well, and the mass start on Stage 6 was fantastic. Bonus seconds (15-10-5) for the first athlete into the finish at the two chasing starts is a small change which I think should be done for next year. Also, it could even be interesting to have a mass start on day two instead of a chasing start, to make it possible to use bonus seconds during the race already at day two.
I've been highly against the regular mass start for years, but stage 6 at the Tour de Ski was one of the most exciting CC races I've seen ever. I hope FIS continues to look at the mass start format, and try to incorporate a "good reason" to take bonus seconds or get away early in the race for all mass starts. That will be a large step forward for CC skiing in general and for the mass start format, which I think should make most happy.
Comment by Jon
Sunday 17 January 2010 12:13
It was a grat Tour de Ski. Congratulations!
Comment by Marko
Saturday 20 February 2010 20:48
I loved the Tour de Ski and am glad it is proving such a success. As an American who would like to see cross-country get greater exposure in North America, I am wondering if there is any thought to staging the Tour in the U.S. or Canada in the future. Perhaps a tour that would encompass the four Olympic venues - Lake Placid, Salt Lake, Canmore and now Whistler - might be a future possibility? I have been disappointed that in recent years, World Cup events in North America are often missing many top athletes. I imagine the only way to counter this is to put enough points on the line. and it might have to be done in a non-WC year. The "Canadian Rocky Mountain Event" listed for 2012 might be a good start in this direction.
Last Tour Blog
As expected when different skills are deciding the final results, the Tour is followed by a debate on the overall composition of the Tour. How much classic? How much skating? How many sprints and where to give out bonus points are among the many questions that are being discussed on the different CC web pages just now. We got the different CC skill very well illustrated in the final two competitions for the men. In the beginning of the 20 km mass start Petter Nordthug was playing with his sprint skills in his fight for the bonus seconds against Lukas Bauer. While only one lap later, and in the last climb on Sunday, Lukas Bauer kicked back with his incredible endurance strength.
The discussion is good. The CC Committee will get together all important inputs from all major stakeholders before we meet in Turkey in the beginning of June. I hope the engagement is kept warm through the spring and that all comments will be brought forward to the national committee members before next year's program is decided in June. It is too late to complain when the snow is falling again next winter.
I am really happy that the Tour in just four years has developed to such a major event and meeting place outside our Championships. This year's newcomer, the race from Cortina to Toblach was well received by most athletes and media. New ideas and new places will also in future be tested but most important is that the basic concept has proved to work.
The next major step is a Tour World Championship every fourth year. We can just hope for support from the Congress in Turkey in June.
Next stop for me is Vancouver Olympics, until then enjoy your skiing.
Vegard
I've been highly against the regular mass start for years, but stage 6 at the Tour de Ski was one of the most exciting CC races I've seen ever. I hope FIS continues to look at the mass start format, and try to incorporate a "good reason" to take bonus seconds or get away early in the race for all mass starts. That will be a large step forward for CC skiing in general and for the mass start format, which I think should make most happy.