12:06. In the run-up to the women’s individual cross-country skiing event at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, which starts at 1pm, the organisers have decided to salt the tracks. After Jens Luraas Oftebro ‘s victory in the Nordic combined on Wednesday, the state of the circuit was criticised at length.
“It totally changes the racing conditions. The salt in the track makes it hard and compact. The glide will be better and the conditions completely different from what they would have been without salt,” explains NRK cross-country skiing expert Fredrik Aukland.
That’s good news for some athletes, like Norway’s Astrid Oeyre Slind. “It’s going to be more of a real ski race than wading through slush. That’s important for me. I always think that the best will win, so it’s all about being fit and having good skis,” she says.
On the other hand, Expressen reports the words of specialist Petter Soleng Skinstad, who criticises this choice for Swedish favourite Frida Karlsson. ” It’s not optimal for her, but it’s really good for Moa Ilar ,” he says.
