Mixed Team Sprint relay - confirmed by FIS for 2022
The International ski Federation has confirmed a new race format for the 2021-2022 World Cup. The first mixed team sprint relay test event will take place in Falun, Sweden in March of 2022.
Mixed teams, meaning one female and one male competitor from the same country, will compete together in this free technique event. In addition to mixed teams FIS will test out some modifications to the sprint relay race format as well including a new qualification process and a 'criterium style' elimination.
For each event, one team per nation will be allowed to be entered. This is a departure from the normal World Cup entry process where some countries can enter up to 4 teams. FIS is also doing away with the semi-final qualification rounds and will test a new sprint relay qualification process where each individual athlete will ski one lap by interval start. (same as individual sprint qualification)
The result of the qualification round will be calculated by accumulating the times of both athletes and the 20 best team will be qualified to the Final.
During the Finals, each athlete of the team will alternatively ski 6 laps each in the following order Women / Man. The last 2 teams will be eliminated after lap 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. Overlapping rules will apply.
Sprint relays are always known for their chaotic tag zones. For this test event no physical contact between the competitors is required for the exchange.
The process in which new events are added to the calendar firs starts with a vote at the FIS council and at least one test event. If athletes, and more importantly spectators and TV views, like the new format it could be a permanent change for 2023. In order for this new format to become a medal event they will need to first have a full World Cup season testing the format, then vote on whether or not to implement the new change at the championship and Olympic level.