After a break of more than two weeks, the Viessmann FIS World Cup Cross-Country will continue in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, in Canmore, which is situated 100 km west from Calgary. From 22nd to 26th January, the athletes will compete in four different World Cup races (per gender) in the Canmore Nordic Centre which was developed for the 1988 Winter Olympics. For the World Cup in 2005, the government of Alberta invested significantly to refurbish the Center to a high level standard. The Centre features more than 70 kilometers of world-class racing trails at an average elevation of 1425 meters.
About 195 athletes from 20 nations are expected to compete on the challenging courses just outside the famous Banff National Park. The competitions will start on 22nd January with Pursuit races for ladies and men. On the following day, the sprinters will be able to show their strength in a classical sprint race on a 1,4 km course. After a rest day, on Friday 25th, the traditional interval start races over 10 km (ladies) and 15 km (men) are planned. The Canadian competition week will have its final on Saturday, 26th January with a Sprint competition over 1.1 km in the free technique.
“We are happy to have Canada on the World Cup schedule. Especially in view of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver it is very important for the International Ski Federation to create and develop the knowledge base. I’m sure that the Canadians will organize great competitions in a good atmosphere as they did already in December 2005, when they hosted the Cross-Country World Cup last,” stated Juerg Capol, FIS Race Director Cross-Country.
Beside the top level sports program, the Canmore Organizing Committee has created a nice social program. The kick off will be on 19th January with a kids’ race called the World Cup Festival Youth Ski Tournament, which is a part of the Bow Corridor Regional Race Series. This series is a supporter of Right-To-Play, an international organization dedicated to creating a "healthier and safer world for kids through the power of sport and play". From 22nd of January there will be event program on each race day in the town including a medal presentation for the top athletes of the day.
More information: http:://www.albertaworldcup.com
Starting times:
Tuesday, 22nd JanuaryPursuit 7,5 + 7,5 km ladies 11:00 am* (7pm CET)
Pursuit 15 + 15 km men 12:30 am* (8.30 pm CET)
Wednesday, 23rd JanuarySprint classical technique Qualification 10.00 am* (6pm CET)
Sprint classical technique Finals 12:30 am* (8.30 pm CET)
Friday, 25th January10 km free technique ladies 11.00am* (7pm CET)
15 km free technique men 12.30am* (8.30pm CET)
Saturday, 26th January Sprint free technique Qualification 10.00am* (6pm CET)
Sprint free technique Finales 12.30am* (8.30pm CET)
*local time
Top three from December 2005 Canmore World Cup10 km free technique ladies 1. Julija Tchepalova (RUS)
2. Beckie Scott (CAN)
3. Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle (GER)
15 km free technique men1. Pietro Piller Cottrer (ITA)
2. Vincent Vittoz (FRA)
3. Tobias Angerer (GER)
15 km mass start classical technique ladies 1. Beckie Scott (CAN)
2. Julija Tchepalova (RUS)
3. Claudia Künzel (GER)
30 km mass start classical technique men1. Tobias Angerer (GER)
2. Frode Estil (NOR)
3. Jens Filbrich (GER)
Team Sprint ladies1. Germany (Henkel, Bauer)
2. Canada (Scott, Renner)
3. Sweden I (Andersson, Dahlberg)
Team Sprint men1. Norway I (Svartedal, Roenning)
2. Sweden I (Lind, T. Fredriksson)
3. Sweden II (M. Larsson, Oestberg)