Jasmi Joensuu and Lauri Vuorinen to test Val di Fiemme’s new Olympic sprint course

Tour de Ski’s fifth stage will double as the most important race of the series for many sprinters: a first true test of the redesigned Val di Fiemme sprint course that is set to be used at the Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympics.

According to Finland head coach Teemu Pasanen, the course in Val di Fiemme has been thoroughly reworked to make the racing more selective. It now features three climbs, with the final climb described as heavy, and athletes will enter the last downhill five metres lower than before. The finish now includes a higher bump, changes that aim to curb the usual waiting tactics and late slingshot into the final descent. Pasanen noted that multiple course maps circulated in spring, and hopes the Tour version matches the Olympic layout so teams can gather reliable data.

Finnish sprinters Jasmi Joensuu, Lauri Vuorinen and Johanna Matintalo have produced the best early-season sprint results for Finland and are expected to benefit from the reconnaissance opportunity. Beyond the Val di Fiemme sprint, the Tour de Ski stages diverge from Olympic formats: the series begins in Toblach with a freestyle sprint, followed by a 10 km interval start held in classic rather than the Olympic style, then a 5 km mass-start in heat format, and a 20 km pursuit based on the Tour standings. The Tour concludes, as usual, with the climb up Alpe Cermis on 4 January.

The opening Toblach 10 km and the subsequent pursuit are also seen as key indicators of form for Iivo Niskanen and Krista Pärmäkoski after recent illnesses, and for Kerttu Niskanen as she seeks to overcome early-season difficulties.

The Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will take place 6–22 February in Italy, with live coverage on Yle.