News

Sad news starting the FIS Worldloppet Cup season 2017. This weekend the organization team of La Fouleé Blanché had to announce the cancellation of this year’s edition. The coming Saturday La Fouleé Blanché, in the French mountains near Grenoble – was supposed to host the opening stage of the FIS Worldloppet Cup 2017, but due to lack of snow and a non-promising weather forecast for Autrans – the venue – the organizers had to take this hard to take decision and cancelled the race. 

Although there has been good skiing since the Christmas holidays in Autrans-Méaudre, thanks to cultured snow and the microclimate on Gève plateau and despite the best efforts of the technical teams it wasn’t possible to create a loop long enough to accommodate thousands of skiers and to provide an event that everyone can enjoy. “The track we have created is too short for mass racing and not selective enough for the elite”. says Wilfried Valette, event director. In addition, the weather forecasts does not indicate sufficient snowfall by the end of the week.

Rendezvous for the 40th edition in 2018

“Putting the disappointment of this cancellation behind us, the whole team will quickly and enthusiastically re-mobilize to prepare a 40th edition consistent with the ambitions and expectations of our participants. The organizing committee warmly thanks all the volunteers and professionals who have given so much energy to overcome the difficulties, and our partners for their unfailing support”. Michèle Arnaud, president of the Foulée Blanche.

In 2018, the 40th Foulée Blanche coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the Olympic Games in Grenoble. Let’s hope that good snowfall will help to commemorate this important date in the history of nordic skiing on the Vercors plateau.

FIS Worldloppet Cup now kicks off at Dolomitenlauf

So the FIS Worldloppet Cup 2017 will not kick off in Fance but in Austria. The Dolomitenlauf, the second stage of the official FIS-Worldcup of Marathonskiing, in the Austrian Dolomites is now the first race for the world’s marathon skiing elite. The organizers already confirmed that the race is ensured. Obertilliach is covered in a thick layer of snow and the tracks are groomed. Many ski stars already registered for the 43rd Dolomitenlauf on the 22nd of January (find here all the information about the race).

Also the remaining stages of the cup; Marcialonga, König Ludwiglauf, Transjurasienne, Tartu Maraton, Engadin Skimarathon and Ugra Skimarathon reported good snow situations and it seems like we only have to miss one stage of 2017’s FIS Worldloppet Cup. 

(Expa Pictures)