Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII concludes its opening block on Sunday, December 20, 2026, with the Bad Gastein Criterium, a 36km mass start event in Sportgastein, Austria.
Closing out a historic beginning of the season, the well-established Bad Gastein Criterium brings the curtain down on the Bad Gastein block. Held over multiple laps around Sportgastein’s high-altitude course, it offers spectators some of the most spectacular viewing opportunities in the sport.
With the world’s best skiers battling for the final points of the Bad Gastein Tour against a stunning alpine backdrop, it promises to be a fitting finale to the first-ever Tour Competition.
The race unfolds over five laps, featuring two Sprint intermediates and two ascents of the legendary “Wall”; here, early positioning proves decisive. Since both checkpoints sit close to the finish line, spectators get an up-close view of every pivotal stage.
This is the fourth and final stop of the Bad Gastein Tour. Athletes earn Champion, Sprint and Climb points at the Criterium as usual for the season standings, and the total Champion points collected across all four events now decide the Tour’s own prize money.
“The Bad Gastein Criterium offers an exciting race experience, especially for spectators watching live. The athletes complete five laps, including two sprints and two climbs up the famous ‘Wall,’ with positioning playing a key role from the very beginning and ensuring racing action right from the start. With both the sprints and climbs located close to the finish area, spectators can follow all the key moments of the race up close,” says Thomas Zlöbl, Chief of Competition.
“The Criterium has earned its place over the years, and climbing the Wall twice in one race still separates the field every time. It’s a demanding finish to the block, and it’s here that Tour prize money is finally handed out,” says Lukas Bauer, Ski Classics Race Director.
Also Read: Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII
Bad Gastein Criterium — Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII – Event 4
- Date: Sunday, December 20, 2026
- Location: Sportgastein, Austria
- Distance: 36km classic technique
- Highest point: 1641 meters above sea level
- Elevation gain: 523 meters
- Format: Criterium, multi-lap
- Starting procedure: Mass start
- Start times: Men 10:50 CET / Women 11:10 CET
- Points: Pro Event 300p – See exact point distribution
- Sprint: 2 Sprints
- Climb: 2 Climbs, “The Wall”
- Last edition winners: Anikken Gjerde Alnæs (1:35:52.5), Kasper Stadaas (1:23:15.3)
- Tour: Bad Gastein Tour (Events 1 to 4). Points count as normal for season standings; prize money for the block is awarded at the end of the Tour based on total Champion points.
- Participation: closed to Pro Team athletes
- Link to SC Play: Watch here
Map and Profile
More information about the Bad Gastein Criterium can be found HERE
Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII (2026/2027)
• Event 1: December 11, 2026 – Bad Gastein Prologue – Austria – 1km
• Event 2: December 13, 2026 – Sportgastein Criterium – Austria – 30km
• Event 3: December 19, 2026 – Bad Gastein ITT – Austria – 7km
• Event 4: December 20, 2026 – Bad Gastein Criterium – Austria – 36km
Bad Gastein Tour (Events 1–4 of Ski Classics World Championship Season XVIII)
• Event 5: January 16, 2027 – Engadin La Diagonela – Switzerland – 55km
• Event 6: January 17, 2027 – Zuoz–St. Moritz Sprint – Switzerland – 30km
• Event 7: January 31, 2027 – Marcialonga – Italy – 70km
• Event 8: February 12, 2027 – Bedřichov Heat Sprint – Czech Republic – 1.5km
• Event 9: February 14, 2027 – Jizerská50 – Czech Republic – 50km
• Event 10: February 27, 2027 – Oxberg–Mora Sprint Women – Sweden – 30km
• Event 11: February 28, 2027 – Oxberg–Mora Sprint Men – Sweden – 30km
• Event 12: March 7, 2027 – Vasaloppet – Sweden – 90km
• Event 13: March 20, 2027 – Birkebeinerrennet – Norway – 53km
• Event 14: April 3, 2027 – Reistadløpet – Norway – 35km
• Event 15: April 4, 2027 – Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja – Norway – 60km
For more updates and detailed information about the Ski Classics World Championship, visit skiclassics.com.
Author: Leandro Lutz
Photo: Ski Classics
