The 2024/2025 FIS World Cup is getting closer and closer and the thoughts of athletes, authorized personnel and fans are already turning to the eagerly awaited 19th Tour de Ski, which, as per tradition, will end in Val di Fiemme on the weekend from January 3 to 5.

The Coop FIS Tour de Ski Performance by Le Gruyère AOP will be the first big highlight of the upcoming sporting season for cross-country skiers of the highest level, who will be at the start of the inaugural World Cup stage within a week. The new season will start in the Finnish resort of Ruka (November 29 – December 1), with the top event then moving on to Norway's Lillehammer (December 6-8) and Switzerland's Davos (December 13-15). In view of the Ruka opening, the Italian Winter Sports Federation has already issued the convocations of the Italian national team expected at the start, and they are the cross-country skiers Caterina Ganz, Anna Comarella, Francesca Franchi and Nicole Monsorno, who will be joined by Federico Pellegrino, Francesco De Fabiani, Paolo Ventura, Michael Hellweger, Simone Daprà, Davide Graz and Elia Barp.

Once the ‘foreign’ stages of the World Cup have been secured, it will be time for the Tour de Ski for the best cross-country skiers, who will begin in Toblach (December 28 – January 1) the all-Italian adventure of the 19th edition, before finally reaching Val di Fiemme for the grand finale. The tracks between the Cross-Country Stadium of Lago di Tesero and Alpe Cermis will be the protagonists of three days of great sport, starting with the Sprint in classic technique in the renovated Fiemme tracks (January 3) and the debut at the Tour de Ski of the 20 km Skiathlon event (January 4), up to the iconic appointment with the Cermis Final Climb (January 5), the spectacular ascent of Alpe Cermis at an average gradient of 12% with peaks touching 30% and testing all the grit, determination and legs of the cross-country skiers.

An exceptional opener for the Cermis Final Climb are none other than the participants of the Rampa con i Campioni: the ‘Rampa’ is an Open race in free technique that faithfully follows the course of the Final Climb ad leads the group of participants up the famous ascent to the finish line, near the Doss dei Laresi cable car, before the World Cup champions passage (start at 11.00 a.m.). It offers the perfect opportunity for amateurs to experience the vertiginous slopes of the Olimpia III track and live an unparalleled sporting feat in the company of great champions of cross-country skiing of long ago. From the record holders of the most Tour de Ski victories, Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) and Dario Cologna (SUI), to the World Champion Petter Northug and Cristian Zorzi, Antonella Confortola, Peter Schlickenrieder and Vegard Ulvang, who, together with Jurg Capol, initiated the Tour de Ski… there are many examples of champions who in the past 13 editions have skied, struggled and rejoiced along the ‘Ramp’, which also in 2025 aims to entertain its competitors.

Registrations for the 14th Rampa con i Campioni of Sunday, January 5, are open and available online. The 30€ registration fee includes, other than the race bib, the tasty final refreshment and the rich race pack, also the post-race return by cable car, the possibility of transfer to the start area and the transport of clothing to the finish area.

It is important to remember that are available online also the registrations for the Coop Mini World Cup, the ‘World Cup in miniature’ that unleashes the enthusiasm and joy of future cross-country skiers at the Lago di Tesero Cross-Country Stadium, scheduled for Saturday, January  4 (€5 per participant, born between 2013 and 2019).

The Rampa con i Campioni and the Coop Mini World Cup are just some of the various side initiative that the Nordic Ski Val di Fiemme organising committee is working on in view of the 19th edition of the Tour de Ski, with the staff led by president Pietro De Godenz working with renewed enthusiasm after receiving in Rome the 2024 ‘Testimone del Volontariato’, a national recognition that certifies the immeasurable work carried out by the volunteers of Val di Fiemme and Trentino.

©Newspower.it