Ski mountaineering will make history at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, combining grueling uphill climbs with technical descents. French athlete Emily Harrop dominates the World Cup circuit, winning all four sprint races this season ahead of the Olympic test event in Bormio.
Harrop told reporters after her victory:
This win gives me crucial confidence for next year. We've all been laser-focused on mastering transitions between climbing skins and downhill gear.
The Olympic format features three-minute sprints where athletes:
- Climb 120-meter vertical using adhesive climbing skins
- Remove skins mid-race while carrying skis
- Navigate a 70-meter downhill course with banked turns
Spanish champion Oriol Cardona Coll revealed:
We've swapped endurance training for explosive gym sessions. These sprints demand different fuel - both physically and mentally.
Local favorite Nicolò Canclini brings hometown advantage to Bormio's Stelvio slope. The two-time world champion grew up 300 meters from the Olympic course but humorously admitted:
My perfect skimo day ends with a beer at a mountain rifugio, not a finish line.
Controversy surrounds the sprint format's authenticity. While U.S. racer David Sinclair calls it almost a different sport,organizers argue the fast-paced races will boost viewer engagement. The mixed relay adds strategic complexity, requiring teams to alternate ascents and descents twice per pair.
With only 36 total Olympic spots available, athletes face intense competition. Harrop remains the favorite after securing three consecutive World Cup titles, though Canclini vows to redeem his recent qualifying stumble on home snow. As training regimens evolve for this new Olympic discipline, one truth remains constant: racers must master the art of wearing skis as both climbing tools and descent vehicles.
