The FIS Cross-Country World Cup presented by Viessmann is about to be held at the "Laura" Cross-Country Ski and Biathlon Center in Sochi, marking the first ever international competition at the venue which will host the Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon events at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
A seventy strong team of Sochi 2014 representatives are supporting the organization and staging of the test event, helping to ensure the functions and services at the venue are thoroughly tested out well ahead of Games time.
The "Laura" Cross-country Ski and Biathlon Center is unique on the winter sports circuit given that it consists of two separate stadiums with their own start zones and finish zones, two separate sets of tracks for Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon, a shooting range and preparation areas for the athletes.
The center is situated on the crest and slopes of the Psehako Ridge, approximately 6.5 km northeast of the Krasnaya Polyana Village. The venue is named after the Laura, an alpine river with a large number of waterfalls with its source located on the southern slopes of the Assar Ridge and within the Caucasus Nature Reserve.
The "Laura" Cross-Country and Biathlon Center has just hosted its first ever international competition, with athletes from five different countries competing in the IBU Regional Cup in biathlon on 24th-26th January. The Russian Championships in Cross-Country Skiing, which took place at the same time, placed the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee team at the venue into "Olympic" mode on the eve of a "pre-Olympic" week in Sochi, which sees the FIS Cross-Country World Cup taking place from 1st - 3rd February 2013 with athletes from 26 countries around the world participating.
Starting Times*
Friday, 1 February 2013 Sprint Free Ladies/Men 14:30 LOC (11:30 CET)
Saturday, 2 February 2013 Skiathlon Ladies 13:50 LOC (10:50 CET)
Skiathlon Men 14:45 LOC (11:45 CET)
Sunday, 3 February 2013 Team Sprint Classic Ladies/Men 15:00 LOC (12:00 CET)
*Subject to change
