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Ski mountaineering is scheduled to take place on February 19–22, 2026, in Bormio (Italy). Its inclusion in the Olympic Games is a historic milestone for the sport, significantly boosting global visibility, athlete funding opportunities, national federation development, and mainstream recognition. Results from Milano–Cortina 2026 will also strongly influence the sport’s future Olympic presence and international growth.

The competition is organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in cooperation with the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF), which governs the sport worldwide, plus Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee.

Venue, Competitors’ Structure, and Prize Pool Overview for Ski Mountaineering at the 2026 Winter Olympics

The competition in ski mountaineering will be held at the Stelvio ski course, one of Italy’s most iconic alpine locations and a long-time host of elite winter sports events.

A total of 36 ski runners will compete (18 men and 18 women), participating across the sprint and mixed relay disciplines.

There’s no direct prize money awarded at the Olympic Games. Instead, athletes compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals, Olympic diplomas (for top finishers), and National Olympic Committee (NOC) bonuses, which vary by country and are paid by national federations or governments rather than the IOC.

Participating Athletes in Ski Mountaineering at the 2026 Winter Olympics and Qualification Overview

The final start list will only be confirmed shortly before the Games. Below is the projected elite field based on ISMF World Cup standings, Olympic qualification rankings, and consistent podium finishers expected to qualify.

Men (sprint & mixed relay pool)

• Rémi Bonnet (Switzerland)
• Thibault Anselmet (France)
• Paul Verbnjak (Austria)
• Michele Boscacci (Italy)
• Robert Antonioli (Italy)
• Oriol Cardona Coll (Spain)
• Max Drion du Chapois (Belgium)
• Jakob Herrmann (Austria)
• Jonas Hofer (Germany)

Women (sprint & mixed relay pool)

• Emily Harrop (France)
• Axelle Gachet-Mollaret (France)
• Marion Delespierre (France)
• Alba De Silvestro (Italy)
• Tove Alexandersson (Sweden)
• Laetitia Roux (France)
• Katja Paller (Austria)
• Ana Alonso Rodríguez (Spain)
• Giulia Murada (Italy)

Qualification for ski mountaineering at Milano–Cortina 2026 is managed by the ISMF under IOC quota rules.

1. Olympic qualification ranking list (primary path). Athletes earned quota spots through results in:

• ISMF World Cup events
• ISMF World Championships
• ISMF Olympic Qualification Series races

Points from designated qualification races were combined into an Olympic ranking list, with the highest-ranked athletes earning quota places for their countries.

2. National quota allocation

• Each NOC receives a limited number of athlete slots.
• Countries can allocate those slots to athletes who meet eligibility and ranking standards.
• Maximum athlete limits per nation apply to prevent dominance by a single country.

3. Host nation places. As the host nation, Italy automatically receives reserved quota spots, ensuring representation in both men’s and women’s events.

4. Universality & continental representation. A small number of places are reserved to guarantee:

• Global geographic diversity
• Participation from emerging ski mountaineering nations
• Development of the sport outside traditional Alpine countries

Structure and Competition Format of Ski Mountaineering at the 2026 Winter Olympics

The ski mountaineering program runs across four competition days:

Sprint events (men & women) – February 19–20, 2026 – are held across multiple knockout stages:

• Qualification round
• Quarterfinals
• Semifinals
• Finals

Both men’s and women’s sprint events follow this structure.

Mixed relay event – February 22, 2026 – consists of:

• Qualification heats
• Medal final

Sprint format (men & women)

Race type

• Individual head-to-head sprint races
• Course length: approx. 800–1,000 meters
• Includes uphill skinning, boot-packing (carrying skis), and downhill skiing sections

Competition structure

1) Qualification round (time trial)

• All athletes race individually against the clock
• Top-30 athletes advance to the knockout stage

2) Knockout heats

Athletes compete in groups of six: quarterfinals → semifinals → final

From each heat:

• Top-2 finishers automatically qualify
• Remaining spots filled by fastest losers (time-based)

3) Medal final

• Six athletes race together
• Finish order determines:
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Bronze

Mixed relay format

• Team structure: 1 male + 1 female athlete per team
• Race structure. Each athlete completes multiple short loops, alternating:

1. Female athlete starts
2. Male athlete tags in
3. Alternation continues
4. Final athlete crosses the line to finish

Stages

1) Qualification heats

• Teams race in grouped heats
• Best teams advance to the medal final

2) Medal final

• Mass-start relay race
• First team to finish wins
• No best-of format — one decisive final race

Favorites in Ski Mountaineering at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Betting Options, and Where to Watch

Below are the tournament favorites:

Men’s sprint

• Rémi Bonnet (Switzerland)
• Thibault Anselmet (France)
• Robert Antonioli (Italy)

Women’s sprint

• Emily Harrop (France)
• Axelle Gachet-Mollaret (France)
• Alba De Silvestro (Italy)

Mixed relay

• France (Harrop / Anselmet)
• Switzerland (Bonnet / Female Partner)
• Italy (Antonioli / De Silvestro)

Ski mountaineering betting markets will be limited but available on major Olympic-focused sportsbooks – all belonging in the top 10 online betting sites.

Popular betting markets:

• Outright winner
• Podium finish
• Medal by country
• Head-to-head matchups

International sportsbooks that traditionally cover Olympic niche sports:

• Bet365
• Pinnacle
• Betfair

The tournament can be watched via:

Official Olympic broadcasters – International (IOC coverage)

• Olympics.com — live streams, highlights, replays
• Olympic Channel app

Regional broadcasters (examples)

Europe

• Eurosport / Discovery+ — Full event coverage
• RAI Sport (Italy) — Host broadcaster
• BBC Sport (UK) — Selected live coverage & highlights
• ARD/ZDF (Germany) — live streams & TV

USA

• NBC Sports
• Peacock Streaming

Global streaming options

• Discovery+ (most European markets)
• Peacock (USA)
• Eurosport Player

Pros and Cons of Favorites in Ski Mountaineering at the 2026 Winter Olympics