The Premium Sprint makes its first appearance of the season this weekend at Engadin La Diagonela, continuing the development of the Ski Classics Pro Tour.

Fully integrated into the Ski Classics rules for Season XVII, the Premium Sprint adds an extra moment of action inside selected Pro Tour events, allowing athletes and Pro Teams to score valuable points.

At Engadin La Diagonela, the third Pro Tour event of the season, the Premium Sprint will take place at the San Gian church ruins.

How the Premium Sprint works

The Premium Sprint uses the same points system as the other Ski Classics sprints. The seven fastest men and seven fastest women at the sprint split earn points, with 30 points awarded to the fastest athlete, followed by 23, 16, 12, 9, 6, and 4 points.

These points count toward the Sprint Competition, just like all other sprints in the Pro Tour.

What makes the Premium Sprint special

The difference with a Premium Sprint is its impact on the Pro Team Competition.

At long-distance Pro Tour events, Premium Sprint points are added on top of the team’s regular Pro Team points for the day. In simple terms, Pro Teams can earn extra points by performing well in sprints during the race.

Engadin La Diagonela is the first of four events in Season XVII to feature a Premium Sprint. The format will also appear at the Bedřichov Sprint, Reistadløpet, and the Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja. As the season progresses, the Premium Sprint is expected to play an increasingly important role in shaping the Pro Team Competition.

More information is available on Ski Classics Rules & Regulations

Sprints & Premium Sprints Season XVII

• Bad Gastein Criterium
  Sprint x 2
• Engadin La Diagonela
  Sprint + Premium Sprint San Gian
• Marcialonga
  Sprint Canazei
  Sprint Predazzo
• Bedřichov Sprint
  Sprint + Premium Sprint
• Vasaloppet
  Sprint Smågan
  Sprint Evertsberg
• Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Women
  Sprint
• Orsa Grönklitt 50k ITT Men
  Sprint
• Marcialonga Bodø
  Sprint
• Reistadløpet
  Sprint + Premium Sprint Storlømyra
• Grand Finale Summit 2 Senja
  Sprint + Premium Sprint Johannesmyra

For more updates and detailed information about the Ski Classics Pro Tour, make sure to visit skiclassics.com

Author: Leandro Lutz
Photo: Reichert/NordicFocus