In less than six months, it is time for Ski Tour 2020. A series of ski competitions this year are held in Jämtland and Trøndelag in Norway. This competition form was introduced by the International Ski Federation, FIS, so that there will be a larger overall competition even in the years when there is no Olympic or World Cup in the calendar.

Third time

The tour is reminiscent of its annual Tour de Ski in the Alps. Previously, Finland and Canada have organized the competitions.

"This is the first time that the Swedish and Norwegian ski federations are joining forces to organize a cross-border competition," says Karin Bångman, who is responsible for communications for the Swedish competitions.

Compact competition week

The weekend of February 14-15, competitions will be held in Östersund. Two days later, sprinting is run in a compact track in the finish line at the alpine arena in Åre. Thereafter, a longer run of 38 km is carried out between Storlien and Norwegian Meråker. The tour ends with two competition days at the ski arena at Granåsen in Trondheim.

- It contains all the elements that a good Tour should contain. There are sprints, normal distances and a longer run, says SVT's skiing expert Mathias Fredriksson.

Expected large audience

- The closing weekend in Trondheim will probably be extremely crowded and a great party.

But the races in Östersund, Åre and Storlien then? Will the audience come?

- I definitely think so. There is a great deal of skiing interest and now the races in February when the light starts to come back, so there will probably be a real folk party here too, says Mathias Fredriksson.