The networks of NBC Sports will broadcast more than 30 hours of FIS Ski World Cup slalom action, cross country’s Tour de Ski stage race, the 4-Hills Tournament for ski jumping, and nordic combined action to kick off the first week of the New Year.

Mikaela Shiffrin (Avon, Colo.) opens 2019 with a city event in Oslo, Norway on New Year’s Day. Shiffrin, who has won the past two city events in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2017 and Oslo in 2018, goes for the hat trick in Tuesday’s event, which will be broadcast live on the Olympic Channel, and streamed live on OlympicChannel.com and NBC Sports Gold at 10:30 a.m. EST.

From there, the White Circus rolls into Zagreb, Croatia, for a pair of men and women’s night slaloms Saturday and Sunday, both of which will stream live on OlympicChannel.com and NBC Sports Gold for the first run, and stream live on both platforms for the second run, along with TV broadcast on the Olympic Channel.

The Tour de Ski wraps up with five stages this week, including the grand finale hill climb up the slopes of Val di Fiemme ski resort in Italy on Sunday. Every stage will be broadcast live on the Olympic Channel and streamed live on OlympicChannel.com and NBC Sports Gold.

FIS Ski Jumping World Cup continues this week with the 67th running of the 4-Hills Tournament in Germany, and Austria. NBC Sports Gold will stream all the events, and select events will also be featured on the Olympic Channel.

The FIS Nordic Combined World Cup season returns to action following the holiday break with a pair of HS97/10k events in Otepaa, Estonia, Saturday and Sunday. Both events will stream live on OlympicChannel.com and NBC Sports Gold.

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST.
Preliminary schedule, subject to change
*Same-day delayed broadcast

ALPINE
Tuesday, Jan. 1
10:30 a.m. - Men and women’s city event - Oslo, NOR - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Saturday, Jan. 5
7:00 a.m. - Women’s slalom run 1 - Zagreb, CRO - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
10:00 a.m. - Women’s slalom run 2 - Zagreb, CRO - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Sunday, Jan. 6
6:15 a.m. - Men’s slalom run 1 - Zagreb, CRO - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
9:30 a.m. - Men’s slalom run 2 - Zagreb, CRO - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

CROSS COUNTRY
Tuesday, Jan. 1
6:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 3 men and women’s sprint - Val Muestair, SUI - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Wednesday, Jan. 2
6:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 4 women’s 10k mass start - Oberstdorf, GER - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
8:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 4 men’s 15k mass start - Oberstdorf, GER - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Thursday, Jan. 3
7:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 5 men’s 15k pursuit - Oberstdorf, GER - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
8:45 a.m. - U.S. Cross Country Championships classic individual start - Craftsbury, Vt. - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming
9:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 5 women’s 10k pursuit - Oberstdorf, GER - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Friday, Jan. 4
9:15 a.m. - U.S. Cross Country Championships classic sprint - Craftsbury, Vt. - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming

Saturday, Jan. 5
8:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 6 women’s 10k mass start - Val di Fiemme, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
9:10 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 6 men’s 15k mass start - Val di Fiemme, ITA - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
2:00 p.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 6 men’s 15k mass start - Val di Fiemme, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV*

Sunday, Jan. 6.
7:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 7 women’s hill climb - Val di Fiemme, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
9:15 a.m. - U.S. Cross Country Championships freestyle mass start - Craftsbury, Vt. - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming
8:45 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 7 men’s hill climb - Val di Fiemme, ITA - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
2:00 p.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 7 men’s hill climb - Val di Fiemme, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV

Tuesday, Jan. 8
8:45 a.m. - U.S. Cross Country Championships freestyle sprint - Craftsbury, Vt. - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming

NORDIC COMBINED
Saturday, Jan. 5
4:00 a.m. - Men’s HS97 - Otepaa, EST - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
6:30 a.m. - Men’s 10k - Otepaa, EST - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Sunday, Jan. 6
5:00 a.m. - Men’s HS97 - Otepaa, EST - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
7:45 a.m. - Men’s 10k - Otepaa, EST - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

SKI JUMPING
Monday, Dec. 31
8:00 a.m. - Four Hills Tournament men’s HS142 qualifying - Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GER - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Tuesday, Jan. 1
8:00 a.m. - Four Hill Tournament men’s HS142 - Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GER - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
5:00 p.m. - Four Hills Tournament men’s HS142 - Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GER - Olympic Channel-TV

Thursday, Jan. 3
8:00 a.m. - Four Hills Tournament men’s HS130 qualifying - Innsbruck, AUT - NBC Sports Gold

Friday, Jan. 4
8:00 a.m. - Four Hills Tournament men’s HS130 - Innsbruck, AUT - NBC Sports Gold

Saturday, Jan. 5
11:00 a.m. - Four Hills Tournament men’s HS142 qualifying - Bischofshofen, AUT - NBC Sports Gold

Sunday, Jan. 6
11:00 a.m. - Four Hills Tournament men’s HS142 - Bischofshofen, AUT - NBC Sports Gold

All streams are available via desktop (NBCSports.com/Live, NBCSports.com/Gold and OlympicChannel.com) as well as mobile, tablet and connected television platforms. The NBC Sports app, NBC Sports Gold app and Olympic Channel app are available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire. Exclusive commercial-free coverage will be available for subscribers of the NBC Sports Gold Pass.

Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.) skied a strong race to finish sixth in stage 2 of the FIS Cross Country World Cup Tour de Ski, a 10k individual start freestyle in Toblach, Italy, Sunday. Diggins’ performance moved her into second overall, 23 seconds behind leader Natalia Nepryaeva of Russia.

“Today was a good race for me,” said Diggins, who finished third overall in the Tour de Ski last season. “My body was still a bit tired from skiing all the sprint rounds but I was satisfied with the race I put together. To have a good overall tour it’s important to ski consistently, so I feel good about where I’m at.”

Nepryaeva, who was 30th in the opening stage sprint, won her first career World Cup victory Sunday with a time of 23 minutes, 19 seconds to move into the overall lead. Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg of Norway was second at 23:20, with Anastasia Sedova of Russia in third at 23:30. Diggins, who started the day third overall following her third-place in the stage 1 freestyle sprint, finished with a time of 23:47. Stage 1 winner Stina Nilsson of Sweden, dropped to 10th overall after finishing 39th in the second stage.

Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wa.) was 16th in the second stage and fell from sixth to eighth in the overall standings. Sophie Caldwell (Stratton Mountain, Vt.) finished stage two in 36th, falling from ninth to 22nd in the overall standings.

In the men’s 15k individual freestyle race, Russia took two podiums spots with Sergey Ustiugov in first and Alexander Bolshunov in third. In second place was Norway’s Simen Hegstad Krueger. Bolshunov moved into the overall lead, followed by Ustiugov in second and stage 1 winner Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway sitting third. Simi Hamilton (Aspen, Colo.) is the top-placed American in 50th overall.

The Tour de Ski heads into a rest day on Monday with stage 3, another freestyle sprint, taking place in Val Muestair, Switzerland, Tuesday.

RESULTS
Men’s 15k freestyle
Women’s 10k freestyle

OVERALL STANDINGS
Men through stage 2
Women through stage 2

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST.
*Same-day delayed broadcast

Tuesday, Jan. 1
6:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 3 men and women’s sprint - Val Muestair, SUI - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Wednesday, Jan. 2
6:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 4 women’s 10k mass start - Oberstdorf, GER - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
8:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 4 men’s 15k mass start - Oberstdorf, GER - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Thursday, Jan. 3
7:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 5 men’s 15k pursuit - Oberstdorf, GER - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
8:45 a.m. - U.S. Cross Country Championships classic individual start - Craftsbury, Vt. - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming
9:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 5 women’s 10k pursuit - Oberstdorf, GER - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Friday, Jan. 4
9:15 a.m. - U.S. Cross Country Championships classic sprint - Craftsbury, Vt. - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming

Saturday, Jan. 5
8:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 6 women’s 10k mass start - Val di Fiemme, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
9:10 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 6 men’s 15k mass start - Val di Fiemme, ITA - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
2:00 p.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 6 men’s 15k mass start - Val di Fiemme, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV*

Sunday, Jan. 6
7:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 7 women’s hill climb - Val di Fiemme, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
9:15 a.m. - U.S. Cross Country Championships freestyle sprint - Craftsbury, Vt. - U.S. Ski & Snowboard Streaming
8:45 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 7 men’s hill climb - Val di Fiemme, ITA - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
2:00 p.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 7 men’s hill climb - Val di Fiemme, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV

Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.) skied to her first podium of the season, finishing third in the freestyle sprint in stage 1 of the FIS Cross Country World Cup Tour de Ski in Toblach, Italy, Saturday. Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wa.) finished sixth, and Sophie Caldwell (Stratton Mountain, Vt.) was ninth.

“While a podium is always awesome and exciting, I was really happy with my race today because I was racing with joy and having fun again,” Diggins said. “I had a really good Christmas break and taking a step back from World Cup racing and getting relaxed and happy, remembering to ignore all the external pressure, was key for me.”

The U.S, qualified all three women who started the Tour, with Bjornsen winning the qualifiers, Diggins qualifying sixth and Caldwell 13th. All three women were matched up in the semifinal heat one with Diggins and Bjornsen advancing to the finals. In the finals, Diggins sat fourth coming into the final corner and made her move up the inside but got nipped at the line in a photo finish with Ida Ingemarsdotter of Sweden, who finished second. Sweden’s Stina Nilsson skied away from the field in the final kilometer to win by three seconds.

In the men’s race, Simi Hamilton (Aspen, Colo.) qualified eighth, and Kevin Bolger (Burlington, Vt.) qualified 13th, but neither advanced from the quarterfinals. Norway’s Sindre Bjoernestad Skar took the victory as countryman Emil Iversen was second. Richard Jouve of France rounded out the podium in third.  

The Tour de Ski continues Sunday with the women’s 10k individual start and the men’s 15k individual start.

RESULTS
Women’s Sprint Finals
Men’s Sprint Finals

TOUR DE SKI STANDINGS
Men's overall through stage 1
Women's overall through stage 1

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST.
*Same-day delayed broadcast

Sunday, Dec. 30
6:30 a.m. - Tour de Ski stage 2 women’s 10k interval - Toblach, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
8:30 a.m. - Tour de Ski stage 2 men’s 15k interval - Toblach, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold\

Tuesday, Jan. 1
6:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski stage 3 men and women’s sprint - Val Muestair, SUI - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Wednesday, Jan. 2
6:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski stage 4 women’s 10k mass start - Oberstdorf, GER- Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
8:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski stage 4 men’s 15k mass start - Oberstdorf, GER- Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Thursday, Jan. 3
7:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski stage 5 men’s 15k pursuit - Oberstdorf, GER- Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
9:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski stage 5 women’s 10k pursuit - Oberstdorf, GER- Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Saturday, Jan. 5
8:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 6 women’s 10k mass start - Val di Fiemme, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
9:10 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 6 men’s 15k mass start - Val di Fiemme, ITA - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
2:00 p.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 6 men’s 15k mass start - Val di Fiemme, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV*

Sunday, Jan. 6.
7:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 7 women’s hill climb - Val di Fiemme, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
8:45 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 7 men’s hill climb - Val di Fiemme, ITA - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
2:00 p.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 7 men’s hill climb - Val di Fiemme, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV
 

If it wasn’t for bad luck this weekend in Bormio, Italy, Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, Vt.) would have any luck at all.

In Friday’s FIS Ski World Cup downhill, Cochran-Siegle walked out of his ski just three gates into his run. In Saturday’s super-G he was iced at the start for more than 30 minutes as the racer in front of him, Norway’s Stian Saugestad, took a nasty fall into the nets and was eventually extracted from the course by helicopter.

“It’s was tough with the course hold, I think that whatever happens, especially with the helicopter, you really don’t know what is going on, so it’s kind of tough to adjust to and figure out when to get ready to go,” said Cochran-Siegle, who despite the lengthy course hold was the top American finisher in 22nd. “I was just trying to focus on what I wanted to do. I skied well all the way, except for the last split I just got a little behind it. But I think not trying to let (the course hold) affect my mindset, it’s tough, but you have to overcome it.”

Italy’s Dominik Paris won for the second-straight day after taking Friday’s downhill. Austria’s Matthias Meyer was second, as Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde was third. Steven Nyman (Park City, Utah) took another huge step toward top form, coming out of the 60th start position to finish right behind Cochran-Siegle in 23rd place.

Cochran-Siegle, who has scored points in all four World Cup super-G’s this season, now heads home to Vermont for a short New Year’s break. “I’m going to go back home, I get a few days off, then come back over here for Adelboden (Switzerland, Jan. 12-13),” he said. “I think I’m probably going to skip Kitzbuehel this year, just to get another break before the long haul.”

Up next, the tech skiers move on the Oslo, Norway for a New Year’s Day city event, then off to a night slalom in Zagreb, Croatia, on Jan. 6.

RESULTS
Men’s super-G

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST.
Preliminary schedule, subject to change
*Same-day delayed broadcast

Saturday, Dec. 29
2:30 p.m. - Men’s super-G - Bormio, ITA - NBCSN*
5:00 p.m. - Women’s slalom - Semmering, AUT - NBC*

Tuesday, Jan. 1
10:30 a.m. - Men and women’s city event - Oslo, NOR - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Mikaela Shiffrin (Avon, Colo.) will be the first to admit that just because she won, it doesn’t necessarily make her the best. With her 36th career FIS Ski World Cup slalom victory in Semmering, Austria, Saturday, Shiffrin became the women’s all-time World Cup slalom win leader, surpassing her childhood hero Marlies Schild.

“Marlies for me is always going to be the best,” said Shiffrin, who also became the first ski racer in history to win 15 World Cup races in a single calendar year. “I wouldn’t be where I am without being able to watch her...yeah (the record) is incredible, but she deserves that spot in my mind. If I can inspire any young athlete as much as [Marlies Schild] inspired me, then I did my job in this sport."

Shiffrin’s 51st World Cup win didn’t come easy. Starting fifth in the first run, she took a .48-second lead over a fired-up Petra Vlhova, who won Slovakia’s first World Cup giant slalom on Friday, but has finished second to Shiffrin in every slalom so far this season. Vlhova skied a strong second run to take the lead, which forced Shiffrin to take some risks as the final starter on the softening track. But thanks to her East Coast skiing roots at Vermont’s Burke Mountain Academy, those were familiar risks.

“First run felt quite good, second run was more of a battle,” Shiffrin said. “I was trying to not risk everything, but making speed on every turn. I had a couple mistakes, a couple moments where I was fighting for my life, but it was a good fight.”

Vlhova settled for her fifth second-place result in slalom this season at .29-seconds back, while Wendy Holdener of Switzerland was third at .38. With her victory, Shiffrin extended her World Cup lead to 466 points over Vlhova. She also leads the World Cup slalom and super-G standings and is ranked third in the giant slalom, and ninth in the downhill standings.

Victory number 51 also moved Shiffrin to seventh on the all-time World Cup win list, surpassing Italy’s Alberto Tomba with 50 wins. Sweden’s Ingemar Steinmark is the all-time World Cup slalom win leader with 40 victories.

For the next two weeks, Shiffrin will have the opportunity to focus on slalom with a city event in Oslo, Norway, on New Year’s Day, followed by a night slalom in Zagreb, Croatia, on Friday, before returning back to Austria for another slalom in Flachau on Jan. 8.

RESULTS
Women’s slalom

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST.
Preliminary schedule, subject to change
*Same-day delayed broadcast

Saturday, Dec. 29
2:30 p.m. - Men’s super-G - Bormio, ITA - NBCSN*
5:00 p.m. - Women’s slalom - Semmering, AUT - NBC*

Tuesday, Jan. 1
10:30 a.m. - Men and women’s city event - Oslo, NOR - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Mikaela Shiffrin (Avon, Colo.) finished fifth on a balmy day featuring soft and sugary snow in Semmering, Austria, gaining more valuable points in the overall chase, while Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova earned her first World Cup giant slalom win.

Prior to today’s commanding victory, Vlhova had never finished better than seventh in a World Cup giant slalom. She came down almost a half a second ahead of Germany’s Viktoria Rebensburg, and no one could catch her. Just three-hundredths separated the top three after the first run, and 18 hundredths the top six. Vlhova put her foot on the gas pedal and went “full gas” second run to take the victory.

Shiffrin now sits even prettier in first in the overall battle, with 934 points - almost double that of Vlhova in second, with 488 points. Vlhova and Shiffrin have been battling on the mountain all season, but it normally happens in slalom. When asked if she would look for revenge in tomorrow’s slalom, Shiffrin replied thoughtfully, “I try not to ski for revenge, because it’s a tricky balance for me. It’s better to ski for inspiration.”

Today was just not Shiffrin's day, though it wasn't a noticeable mistake that got her. “I think sometimes the biggest mistake you can make is pushing the wrong way,” Shiffrin reflected on her skiing. “It’s not a mistake that’s obvious to the eye, but you can kind of feel it - with every turn you’re just losing a little bit of speed because your skis aren’t coming around quite as fast so you can’t carry the speed.”

Despite her disappointment, Shiffrin - the sportswoman she is - gave props to Vlhova for her impressive skiing. “The way that she’s been skiing, and the way she skied at Killington, I could see it already,” she said. “She’s was having some really, really good turns. I was more surprised by Courchevel, but even then she was right there. That’s super cool. Congratulations.”

AJ Hurt (Squaw Valley, Calif.) and Nina O’Brien (San Francisco, Calif.) both DNFd in the first run. Action continues in Semmering with a slalom on Saturday, where Shiffrin will go for her 15th win in the calendar year, as well as her 36th slalom victory - both World Cup records. 

RESULTS
Women's giant slalom

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST.
Preliminary schedule, subject to change
*Same-day delayed broadcast
**Next-day broadcast

ALPINE
Friday, Dec. 28
12:00 p.m. - Men’s downhill - Bormio, ITA - NBCSN*

Saturday, Dec. 29
4:30 a.m. - Women’s slalom run 1 - Semmering, AUT - NBC Sports Gold
5:15 a.m. - Men’s super-G - Bormio, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
7:30 a.m. - Women’s slalom run 2 - Semmering, AUT - NBC Sports Gold
2:30 p.m. - Men’s super-G - Bormio, ITA - NBCSN*
5:00 p.m. - Women’s slalom - Semmering, AUT - NBC*

Cross country ski fans around the world will be able to watch live streaming of the upcoming L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Championships from Craftsbury, Vt., Jan. 3-8, 2019. The live coverage will be available exclusively from U.S. Ski & Snowboard in partnership with Central Cross Country Skiing.

The weeklong event will bring together some of the top cross country skiers from clubs across America battling for national titles and spots on World Championship and Junior World Championship teams.

Central Cross Country Skiing has been producing live streaming of all major cross country ski events in America for the few seasons to help grow exposure for the sport, including the U.S. Super Tour, and Junior World Championships.

In addition to CXC’s presentation of the L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Championships, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is providing free coverage of the entire U.S. Ski & Snowboard Super Tour series for the second-straight season. The Super Tour streams live on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team Facebook channel.

Coverage from the U.S. Championships in Craftsbury will be available on usskiandsnowboard.org

A full package of both live and on-demand recorded coverage is $29.95, covering all four days of competition. Live coverage is also available on a daily basis for $9.95 per day, with additional access to recorded coverage $4.95 per day.

Coverage begins Thursday, January 3 with classic individual start racing. Sprints are set for Friday, January 4 and Sunday, January 6, with final freestyle mass start on Tuesday, January 8. 

L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Championship Live Streaming Schedule
*All times EDT

Thursday, January 3, 2019
8:45 a.m. - Classic individual start

Friday, January 4, 2019
9:15 a.m. - Classic sprint

Sunday, January 6, 2019
9:15 a.m. - Freestyle mass start

Tuesday, January 8, 2019
8:45 a.m. - Freestyle sprint

Full Event Schedule

On a gnarly Bormio downhill track, perhaps the gnarliest it’s been since the 1990s, Bryce Bennett (Squaw Valley, Calif.) matched his career best, finishing just off the podium once again behind Switzerland’s Beat Feuz by 15 hundredths of a second.

The Italian men put on a good show in front of the home crowd, with Dominik Paris taking the win and Christof Innerhofer in second by nearly four tenths. There appears to be a Swiss-American battle shaping up once again, as Bennett has been just off the podium the last two races behind Feuz, by 21 hundredths total. Bennett’s teammate and mentor, Steven Nyman (Sundance, Utah), had the same battle with Feuz during the 2016 season. In what was a tough fight with the mountain, Nyman ended up 16th.

“I want a podium pretty bad, but [Beat] Feuz - the Swiss guy with the red leader bib - just keeps beating me out,” Bennett said with a laugh following his run. He reflected on his run, “I don’t know what happened...I just kind of put it on the rev limiter and committed to the turn,” he said. But he admitted the conditions were tough in Bormio, “The first training runs were very unforgiving, and it was a little more unforgiving today. The men’s downhill field is very competitive right now, so if you make a mistake, you’re not going to be in there. Limiting the mistakes and putting your foot on the gas pedal every single race is what you have to do now, or you won’t be competitive. Today I was happy with my run...I didn’t know it was quite that good, which is usually a good sign.”

Nyman, who shares a serviceman and a ski company - Fischer - with Bennett, has been a huge source of guidance and leadership for the younger “Twin Tower.” “Without Steven, I would not be doing what I’m doing now,” said Bennett. “We inspected the entire course together, and he has so much experience and looks at things a different way, so it’s been very helpful for me to work with him to formulate a game plan together. We ski very similar. We share skis, we share a serviceman from Fischer, and I think we have a good quiver of skis. Our serviceman is busting his butt every day. I like working with him, because he’s similar to my father, as far as taking pride in the small details of your craft and he does a great job, so it’s fun to be around him.”

Though Nyman was somewhat disappointed with his 16th place finish, he was happy for Bennett. “It was really cool to see Bryce do so well” Nyman commented, in the finish area in Bormio. “I was fired up as I was watching in the lodge, and then he won that middle section and everyone was clapping. When the other guys came down in second or third, no one said anything, but with Bryce, they all clapped. People love him. People respect him. He has a heightened focus right now that’s really impressive to see and he’s analyzing a lot of things and convincing himself of what’s possible. He believes in himself and I think he knows he can attack anywhere.”

When asked by a journalist in the finish, “If Kitz is one hell of a ride, what’s Bormio?” Nyman thought for a few seconds and replied with a laugh, “It’s a boxing match - you’re getting punched all the way down and you have to take those punches and just keep moving and rolling with it all the way down. I had high expectations. I know I can do well here. Today I was just getting punched through all of the terrain and the chop. It’s a beast top to bottom this year. It’s brutal on the legs.”

The icy conditions were rough on bodies, mind, and equipment to boot. Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley, Calif.) decided to sit out today’s downhill after he lost a ski and went into the nets in the second downhill training run. Today, Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, Vt.), who was the top American finisher in both training runs, walked right out of his ski before the third gate. He got up, skied away, and was not injured. Jared Goldberg (Holladay, Utah) finished in the points for the first time this season, landing in 28th. Wiley Maple (Aspen, Colo.) finished in 40th and Sam Morse (Sugarloaf, Maine) in 49th. Tommy Biesemeyer (Keene, N.Y.) did not finish but was also thankfully not injured.

The speed series continues with a super-G on Saturday at Bormio, before the men get to take a little break over the new year.

RESULTS
Men's downhill

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST.
Preliminary schedule, subject to change
*Same-day delayed broadcast
**Next-day broadcast

ALPINE
Friday, Dec. 28
12:00 p.m. - Men’s downhill - Bormio, ITA - NBCSN*

Saturday, Dec. 29
4:30 a.m. - Women’s slalom run 1 - Semmering, AUT - NBC Sports Gold
5:15 a.m. - Men’s super-G - Bormio, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
7:30 a.m. - Women’s slalom run 2 - Semmering, AUT - NBC Sports Gold
2:30 p.m. - Men’s super-G - Bormio, ITA - NBCSN*
5:00 p.m. - Women’s slalom - Semmering, AUT - NBC*

The 13th edition of the FIS Cross Country World Cup Tour de Ski begins Saturday in Toblach, Italy. The Tour spans seven stages over nine days and includes stops in Toblach; Val Mustair, Switzerland; and Oberstdorf, Germany, and finishes with a hill climb in Val di Fiemme, Italy on Sunday, Jan. 6.

“The Tour de Ski is one of the most exciting events on the calendar”, said U.S. Cross Country Team Coach Matt Whitcomb. Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.) will be looking to improve upon her third-place overall finish from last year when the 2019 Tour de Ski opens with a freestyle sprint Saturday and continues with stage 2 featuring a 10k freestyle for the women and a 15k freestyle for the men Sunday.

The U.S. is starting a lean team of seven athletes for the 2018-19 edition of the Tour as many athletes are choosing to use the early January L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Championships in Craftsbury, Vt. as a qualifier for the FIS Cross Country World Championships in February.  

The excitement level and strategy for the upcoming Tour are captured in what each U.S. starter has to say about the event:

“The Tour de Ski is, for me, the most exciting week of the entire season! With a race almost every day, it’s one huge adrenaline ride. I’m excited for this year’s challenge of doing the entire Tour once again, and also looking to use these races and building blocks as part of my preparation for the World Championships! “

 - Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.)

“I love the Tour format, with the craziness of all the travel, and day after day work. It has been nice to have a few weeks off of racing to recover and get my muscles ready to take on the intensive racing. I plan to only do the first part of the Tour this year and follow it with a training block to help me be in the best shape for World Championships in February. “

 - Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wa.)

“We have had a relaxing break in Seefeld (Austria) and I'm feeling good and looking forward to racing the first few stages of the Tour de Ski before dropping out to come back to Seefeld and prepare for Dresden (Germany). I'm excited to do two skate sprints and my first skate distance race of the year in Toblach and Val Mustair and then I will be screaming at the TV to cheer on my teammates finishing the Tour!”

 - Sophie Caldwell (Stratton Mountain, Vt.)

“I’m excited to start the Tour De Ski. I skipped the Davos (Switzerland) world cup weekend, so I’ve had a nice long training block to prepare for these races.”

 - Erik Bjornsen (Winthrop Wa.)

“Coming off a solid period 1 with my form going in the right direction, I was looking forward to a Christmas Break to relax, but also to really sharpen my shape! Coming into my first Tour De Ski I feel strong and confident, my strategy will be like going into any other race, now I’m just looking forward to throwing down some top results! Looking forward to getting back together with the team and putting together a solid Tour!”

 - Kevin Bolger (Sun Valley, Idaho)

“I’m really excited for my eighth Tour de Ski. Even though my plan is to only race through the two sprints, we’ll be heading to some pretty amazing venues and towns in Central Europe and the team vibe during the Tour is always so awesome. It’s such a unique format for ski racing, and it’s just really fun to be a part of the wild traveling show.”

 - Simi Hamilton (Aspen, Co.)

“I am really excited and honored to be able to participate in the Tour de Ski. I want to just stay focused and relaxed because it’s a lot of racing and hectic environment. I think if I can stay relaxed I hopefully can finish the Tour with some good and fun results!”

 - Ben Lustgarten (Burlington, Vt.)

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST.
Preliminary schedule, subject to change
*Same-day delayed broadcast

Saturday, Dec. 29
8:20 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 1 men and women’s sprint - Toblach, ITA - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
8:30 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 1 men and women’s sprint - Toblach, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV

Sunday, Dec. 30
6:30 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 2 women’s 10k interval - Toblach, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
8:30 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 2 men’s 15k interval - Toblach, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Tuesday, Jan. 1
6:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 3 men and women’s sprint - Val Muestair, SUI - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Wednesday, Jan. 2
6:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 4 women’s 10k mass start - Oberstdorf, GER- Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
8:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 4 men’s 15k mass start - Oberstdorf, GER- Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Thursday, Jan. 3
7:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 5 men’s 15k pursuit - Oberstdorf, GER- Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
9:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage 5 women’s 10k pursuit - Oberstdorf, GER- Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold

Saturday, Jan. 5
8:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 6 women’s 10k mass start - Val di Fiemme, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
9:10 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 6 men’s 15k mass start - Val di Fiemme, ITA - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
2:00 p.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 6 men’s 15k mass start - Val di Fiemme, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV*

Sunday, Jan. 6.
7:00 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 7 women’s hill climb - Val di Fiemme, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV, OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
8:45 a.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 7 men’s hill climb - Val di Fiemme, ITA - OlympicChannel.com & NBC Sports Gold
2:00 p.m. - Tour de Ski Stage Stage 7 men’s hill climb - Val di Fiemme, ITA - Olympic Channel-TV
 

During the holiday break, moguls athlete Hunter Bailey (Vail, Colo.) reflects on his annual ski trip to Alaska, which always provides perspective in why he loves doing what he does, both on skis and behind the camera.

Bailey and several friends take some sleds and "rent an RV or two and park wherever the snow seems best." This past summer marked the third of this annual expedition. Skiing in Alaska has always been a dream for Bailey and he finds these trips to be "incredibly fun and rewarding."

Read the full story of Bailey's skiing and photography pursuits in Alaska on the Ilford blog