Ostersund, Sweden - The next Tour de Ski winners can earn double the World Cup points than in the inaugural edition of the eight-race cross-country ski series, the ruling body FIS said on Wednesday. The FIS said at the Forum Nordicum meeting in Sweden that World Cup points will be awarded at all eight stops of the December 28- January 6 event, but half the amount than at a regular race with 50 instead of 100 points for the winner. The overall champion then bags another 400 points.
The successful inaugural edition last December and January saw World Cup points only for the overall classification, with 400 points each for the men's and women's winners.
FIS said that the 2007/2008 edition will start December 28 in the Czech resport of Nove Mesto, will include a sprint in the city centre of Prague and ends on January 6 with a tough climb in Val di Fiemme, Italy. The overall prize money is around 600,000 euros.
Along with the overall World Cup crown, the Tour de Ski title is the highlight of the cross-country ski season in which there are neither world championships nor Olympics.
