Cross-country skiing: four relay skiers, two classic skiers and two skateboarders
The relay is a collective race contested by teams of four athletes, both men and women. The start is a mass start: all the cross-country skiers start at the same time. The first two relay skiers use the classic style, while the last two use the skate technique. Each athlete covers 7.5 km, for a total of 30 km.
The relay handover is validated when the cross-country skier’s hand touches a part of his team-mate’s body in the designated zone. Any error may result in disqualification.
Victory goes to the team whose last relay runner crosses the finish line first. Between strategy, effort management and collective pressure, the relay remains one of the most emblematic races of the Olympic Games.
Read also
