With the air temperature hovering around the critical minus 20 degree Celcius mark Anders Hoegberg claimed his career third and second consecutive victory in the 11th Vasaloppet China in Changchun today. The 37-year-old Swede outsprinted his compatriot Oscar Kardin to finish the 52.5km classic style race in 2:41:13. As such, Hoegberg is now the sole record holder in Changchun with three triumphs.
The 2013 China Tour de Ski begins in Changchun tomorrow morning with the official start of the 52.5km classic-style Vasaloppet China race scheduled for 10:15 a.m. New for this year is the service TracTrac, which will follow the race favourites (number bibs 1 to 20) around Jingyuetan Park live online.
Less than a week to go before the start of the 2013 China Tour de Ski. Temperatures are currently on the cold side, but snow conditions are good and the competition is set to be hot. The Tour covers a large part of northern China this winter, just take a good look at the map and click to zoom!
The 2013 China Tour de Ski starts on 2 January and is the longest in its six-year-long history. Approximately 80 FIS-licensed skiers are set to embark on a challenging and exciting journey through seven stages, four different locations and three different parts of China. At the end, the men's and women's champions will be crowned close to the border with Kazakhstan on 11 January, in the magnificent Nalati grasslands in Xinjiang. Initiated and developed by Nordic Ways, the China Tour de Ski project has reached a new level of maturity this year - and there is more to come.
After the announcement of the four new stages in Xinjiang, the 2013 China Tour de Ski will be the longest ever in its six year existence. As a result, many top European skiers cannot wait to travel to China and get it on. Among them are several high-profile skiers, such as former overall winners Anders Hoegberg and Adam Johansson, and Finnish ace Kusti Kittilae
The Fujian-based outdoor wear company Suretex continues its support for Nordic Ways and extends its sponsorship to the overall China Tour de Ski this winter season.
Nordic Ways is happy to announce that for the first time in its history, the FIS-sanctioned China Tour de Ski will go to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region next month. The new stages in Urumqi's Tianshan Tianchi International Ski Resort and the Nalati grasslands in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture will complete the 7-stage long Tour that takes skiers to three different regions of China.
The 2013 China Tour de Ski will see a break in tradition as the Vasaloppet China classic-style long-distance race in Changchun will not end but begin the competition on 2 January. In total, this winter's Tour de Ski, as always sanctioned by the International Skiing Federation (FIS) is scheduled to be held in at least three different locations.
With less than 20 days until the upcoming FIS Point Race – the 4th Tour De Ski China 2010-2011, what’s hot and what’s new?
Star Athletes
This year, we are honored to have the Olympic Gold Medalists Bjorn Lind ,who’s going for the whole 4 stages and Thobias Fredriksson, who will only come for the Beijing Bird's Nest Competition, the 3rd stage of the TDS 2010-2011.
The first stage of the 3rd Tour de Ski China was held today in sunny weather and about 15 minus degrees at Xiwuqi, Inner Mongolia. One Norwegian - Kjetil Hagvedt Dammen - managed to beat three Swedish skiers to the first podium place in the men’s mass start which was set to 5.7km. Last years Tour winner Anders Hoegberg came 2nd followed by Adam Johansson and Bjoern Gund. Best Chinese was Tang Jinle with a 5th place.
This is my first time in China and I am very excited to be here says Kjetil Dammen who had many new impressions when starting in today’s race.
Xiwuqi City in Inner Mongolia has hosted the first stages of Tour de Ski China ever since the start in 2008, apparently a good turnout for them since a new 5-year contract was signed by Xiwuqi Government and Nordic Ways on October 17th in the town hall. The contract runs 2010-2014 and lays a firm ground for the continuing development of the tour.
Last year, Xiwuqi hosted Stage 1 and Stage 2 of Tour de Ski China, winners of both stages that time was Swedish skier Anders Hogberg. This year, the program is
Tour de Ski China will start on December 28th in Xiwuqi, Inner Mongolia and will go on to Changchun and Shangri-la. There will be elite skiers from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Estonia,Switzerland, France, South Africa, Russia and China participating.