The 10th anniversary edition of the Tour de Ski gets underway tomorrow ©Getty Images

The 10th anniversary edition of the International Ski Federation (FIS) Tour De Ski is due to get underway tomorrow with sprint events in Lenzenheide, Switzerland.

Before the sporting competitions begin, fans have the chance to meet and greet the athletes at the official FIS Tour de Ski team presentation today.

The series of cross-country competitions, scheduled to conclude in Val di Fiemme in Italy on January 10, also features side events for supporters, including a New Year’s Day firework display at Lenzenheide Lake.

The first three Tour de Ski events, which form part of the FIS Cross Country World Cup, will be held in the Swiss village, with the women’s 15 kilometres and the men’s 30km mass start classic races scheduled for Saturday (January 2).

The following day, the competitors will compete in the women’s 5km and men’s 10km pursuit events, before the Tour de Ski switches for two days of racing in Oberstdorf in Germany.

Action is due to continue next Tuesday (January 5) with the women’s and men’s sprint competitions, with the mass start events due to be held on Wednesday (January 6).

Families and children are encouraged to attend the races in Oberstdorf as part of the FIS SnowKidz programme, an initiative designed to get youngsters involved in the sport.

The event will feature a “kids corner”, where a fun obstacle course will allow children to test out their skills.

Six-time Olympic champion Marit Bjørgen is the defending women's Tour de Ski champion
Six-time Olympic champion Marit Bjørgen is the defending women's Tour de Ski champion ©Getty Images

Toblach, Italy will then stage women’s 5km free and men’s 10km free races before the Tour de Ski reaches its final destination.

Val di Fiemme is scheduled to hold mass start competitions for both men and women on January 9 and 9km final climb races on January 10 will bring the series to a close.

For the sixth time, amateur skiers will be able to experience the final climb, a few minutes before the professionals take to the snow, in front of a crowd expected to be more than 20,000. 

Those interested in taking part in the amateur event can click here to register before the deadline next Monday (January 4) and entries are limited to 200 people.

Olympic silver medallist Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway is the reigning men’s Tour de Ski champion, while compatriot Marit Bjørgen, a six-time Olympic gold medallist, will be aiming to defend her women’s crown.