The FIS Cross-Country World Cup is an annual
cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing whereby skiers traverse snow-covered terrain without use of ski lifts or other assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreational activity; however, some still use it as a m ...
competition, arranged by the
International Ski Federation
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation, also known as FIS (), is the highest international governing body for skiing and snowboarding. It was previously known as the International Ski Federation () until 26 May 2022 when the name was cha ...
(FIS) since 1981. The competition was arranged unofficially between 1973 and 1981, although it received provisional recognition on the 31st FIS Congress, 29–30 April 1977 in
Bariloche
San Carlos de Bariloche (from the Mapuche name ''Vuriloche'', meaning "people from the other side of the mountain"), commonly known simply as Bariloche (), is the largest city in the Argentine province of Río Negro and the seat of the departm ...
,
Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
.
The
first World Cup races were held on 9 January 1982 and were located in
Reit im Winkl
Reit im Winkl is a small village (locally known as a snow-magnet) located on the German/Austrian border in the southeastern part of Bavaria, Germany. Part of the Traunstein district, it was previously an immigration and customs control point (pri ...
,
West Germany
West Germany was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from its formation on 23 May 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990. It is sometimes known as the Bonn Republi ...
and
Klingenthal
Klingenthal is a town in the Vogtland region, in Saxony, south-eastern Germany.
Geography
Klingenthal is situated directly on the border with the Czech Republic opposite the Czech town of Kraslice. Klingenthal is 29 km southeast of Plauen, ...
,
East Germany
East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...
.
Bill Koch of the United States and
Berit Aunli
Berit Kristine Aunli (née Kvello; born 9 June 1956) is a Norwegian former cross-country skier. She is a World (1982) and Olympic (1984) champion and won a total of 15 Norwegian titles (1977—1982).
Personal life
Aunli has five siblings. He ...
of Norway were the overall winners in the first season.
Rules
Competitors attempt to achieve the most points during the season. They compete in two disciplines: Distance and Sprint. Current Distance races are mostly 10 km, 20 km,
Skiathlon
Competitive cross-country skiing encompasses a variety of race formats and course lengths. Rules of cross-country skiing are sanctioned by the International Ski Federation and by various national organizations. International competitions incl ...
and 50 km for the men and women. The competitions are held with either individual start or
mass start
Mass start is a format of starting in some racing sports such as long-distance running in sport of athletics, speed skating, long-distance cross-country skiing and biathlon.
There are usually many competitors in such an event, and in order for ...
and either
classic
A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of Masterpiece, lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or Literary merit, highest quality, class, or rank – something that Exemplification, exemplifies its ...
or
free technique. In Sprint races, athletes are organised in heats based on their results in a prologue where the 30 fastest skiers qualify for the sprint's quarter-finals. The 12 best skiers in the quarter-finals advance to the semi-finals and the 6 best skiers in the semi-finals advance to the final. Sprint races are maximum 1.8 kilometres and are competed in either classic or free technique.
In ordinary World Cup races, 100 points are awarded to the winner, 95 for second place, 90 for third place, winding down to 1 point for 50th place. In Stage World Cup races;
Tour de Ski
The Tour de Ski (TdS) is a cross-country skiing event held annually since the 2006–07 season in Central Europe. The Tour de Ski is a Stage World Cup event in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup. Each Tour de Ski has consisted of six to nine stages ...
, World Cup Final and mini-tours, 50 points are awarded to the winner, 47 for second place, 44 for third place, winding down to 1 point for 30th place. The overall winners of the Stage World Cup events are awarded 300 points for Tour de Ski victory and 200 points for an overall win in the World Cup Final or a mini-tour. The athlete with the most points at the end of the season in mid-March wins the Overall World Cup, with the trophy consisting of a 9 kilogram crystal globe. Sub-prizes are also awarded to the winners of the Sprint World Cup and the Distance World Cup, with a smaller 3.5 kg crystal globe.
Races are hosted primarily in Europe, with regular stops in the
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries (also known as the Nordics or ''Norden''; ) are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe, as well as the Arctic Ocean, Arctic and Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic oceans. It includes the sovereign states of Denm ...
and
Central Europe
Central Europe is a geographical region of Europe between Eastern Europe, Eastern, Southern Europe, Southern, Western Europe, Western and Northern Europe, Northern Europe. Central Europe is known for its cultural diversity; however, countries in ...
. A few races have also been held in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
and
Asia
Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...
. World Cup competitions have been hosted in 21 countries around the world: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. (Note that all World Cup races hosted in Bosnia were held when it was still part of Yugoslavia.)
The World Cup usually follows a November–March schedule, effectively ruling out hosting races in the southern hemisphere, for example in
Argentina
Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
or
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
. Additionally, races have yet to be hosted in the
Central Asia
Central Asia is a region of Asia consisting of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The countries as a group are also colloquially referred to as the "-stans" as all have names ending with the Persian language, Pers ...
-
Himalayas
The Himalayas, or Himalaya ( ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the Earth's highest peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest. More than list of h ...
region.
FIS Crystal Globe.svg, Crystal Globe of the World Cup Winner
Bib Yellow.png, Yellow Bib of the World Cup Leader
Overall World Cup standings
The table below shows the three highest ranked skiers each year.
Men
:a. Unofficial World Cup
:b. Trial World Cup
Source:
Women
:a. Trial World Cup
Source:
*With six overall World Cup titles
Bjørn Dæhlie
Bjørn Erlend Dæhlie (born 19 June 1967) is a Norwegian businessman and retired cross-country skier. From 1992 to 1999, Dæhlie won the Nordic World Cup six times, finishing second in 1994 and 1998. Dæhlie won a total of 29 medals in the Oly ...
is record-holder among both men and women.
Sprint World Cup standings
Men
Women
Distance World Cup standings
Men
:a. Arranged under the name of "Long Distance World Cup".
Women
:a. Arranged under the name of "Long Distance World Cup".
U23 World Cup standings
Men
Women
Nations Cup
All results of female and male athletes of a nation are counted for the Nations Cup.
World Cup title winners
Overall titles
Men
Women
Sprint titles
Men
Women
Distance titles
Men
:a. Long Distance World Cup
:b. Middle Distance World Cup
Women
:a. Long Distance World Cup
:b. Middle Distance World Cup
Most World Cup wins
Most successful race winners
Men
Women
*With 84 victories in World Cup and total 114 including Stage World Cup wins Marit Bjørgen is record-holder among both men and women.
World Cup wins by nation
The table below lists those nations which have won at least one individual World Cup race.
Most World Cup podiums, top 10 results and individual starts
Men's career podiums
Men's career top 10s
Men's individual starts
Women's career podiums
Women's career top 10s
Women's individual starts
Season records
Men
Victories per season
Podiums per season
Most points per season
Highest overall advantage
Women
Victories per season
Podiums per season
Most points per season
Highest overall advantage
Consecutive victories and podiums
Men
Consecutive victories
Consecutive podiums
Women
Consecutive victories
Consecutive podiums
Youngest and oldest race winners
Men's youngest winners
Source:
Women's youngest winners
Source:
Men's oldest winners
Source:
Women's oldest winners
Source:
Multi winners
Men's double winners
Women's double winners
World Cup all-time records
Men
Sources:
Women
Sources:
World Cup scoring system
1981/82 season to 2005/06 season
:a. Team sprint discipline was first introduced in
1995/96 season.
2006/07 season to 2021/22
since 2022/2023 season
:a. Nordic Opening is held annually since
2010/11 season.
:b. World Cup Final is held since
2007/08 season, except
2014/15,
2015/16 and
2019/20 seasons. The stages of its first edition were not counted as a Stage World Cup race, hence no World Cup points were awarded.
:c. Ski Tour 2020 was held only in
2019/20 season.
:d. Tour de Ski is held annually since
2006/07 season. World Cup points were not awarded for the stage races in its first edition.
:e. Ski Tour Canada was held only in
2015/16 season.
:f. Individual World Cup points for places in Relays and Team Sprints were given only in
2020/21 season.
Timeline calendar
World Cup hosts
:a. As Czechoslovakia until 1992.
:b. As Soviet Union until 1991.
:c. As Yugoslavia until 1991.
:d. As Leningrad until 1991.
World Cup Finals
*
2007–08 –
Bormio
Bormio (, , ) is a town and ''comune'' with a population of about 4,100 located in the Province of Sondrio, Lombardy region of the Alps in northern Italy.
The centre of the upper Valtellina valley, it is a popular winter sports resort. It was the ...
, Italy
*
2008–09 –
Stockholm
Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
/
Falun
Falun () is a city and the seat of Falun Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 37,291 inhabitants in 2010. It is also the capital of Dalarna County. Falun forms, together with Borlänge, a metropolitan area with just over 100,000 inhabit ...
, Sweden
*
2009–10 – Stockholm / Falun, Sweden
*
2010–11
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...
– Stockholm / Falun, Sweden
*
2011–12 – Stockholm / Falun, Sweden
*
2012–13
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...
– Stockholm / Falun, Sweden
*
2013–14 – Falun, Sweden
*
2014–15 – ''not held''
*
2015–16 –
2016 Ski Tour Canada
The 2016 Ski Tour Canada was a cross-country skiing competition held as part of the 2015–16 FIS Cross-Country World Cup. It was the first tour of the FIS Cross-Country World Cup held in Canada. It began in Gatineau on March 1, 2016, and ended ...
*
2016–17 –
Quebec City
Quebec City is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Census Metropolitan Area (including surrounding communities) had a populati ...
, Canada
*
2017–18 – Falun, Sweden
*
2018–19 – Quebec City, Canada
* not held since
2019–20
See also
*
Tour de Ski
The Tour de Ski (TdS) is a cross-country skiing event held annually since the 2006–07 season in Central Europe. The Tour de Ski is a Stage World Cup event in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup. Each Tour de Ski has consisted of six to nine stages ...
*
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships is a biennial Nordic skiing event organized by the International Ski Federation (FIS). The World Championships was started in 1925 for men and opened for women's participation in 1954. World Championship eve ...
Footnotes
References
External links
Cross-Countryat ''FIS-Ski.com''
{{Main world cups
Cross-country skiing competitions
Cross-Country
Cross-Country
Skiing world competitions
Recurring sporting events established in 1981