Entire Ukrainian Cross-Country Ski Team Mysteriously Disappeared: – I Have No Idea Where They Went

The entire Ukrainian cross-country skiing team was missing during the Tour de Ski event in Toblach on January 1st, leading to a significant stir in the ski community. FIS race director Michael Lamplot confirmed that not one member of the team appeared for the start of the 15-kilometer race, and he had not received any explanation from the Ukrainian delegation regarding their sudden absence.

"I have no idea where they have gone. They just didn’t show up for the start today," Lamplot stated.

He emphasized that there is no regulation mandating a team to notify FIS when they withdraw from the Tour de Ski. However, Lamplot mentioned that such unexpected changes, especially on a day with a unique starting procedure, would have warranted notification.

The Ukrainian athletes had struggled to perform in the earlier stages of the Tour de Ski; following the distance race in Toblach on New Year's Eve, the three women were at the bottom of the standings, while the sole male competitor, Andrij Dotsenko, was ranked second to last in his category.

This disappearance adds to the concerns surrounding the team's performance and participation moving forward in the Tour de Ski.