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2014 Winter Olympics odds: Few moments and events on the planet bring together the entire world like the Winter Olympics do, and this year's competitions on the Olympics lines in Sochi will be no exception. Join us at BookMaker Sportsbook, as we break down some of the most notable sporting events of the 2014 Olympiad, including Cross Country Skiing.
Cross-country skiing is one of the most identifiable events in the Winter Olympics, and that will make it one of the more popular events to bet on the Olympics betting lines. The concept of cross-country skiing is rather simple - ski across the mountainous terrains and the slopes faster than your competitors to become known as the best skier in the world.
This isn't just one simple event, though. There are actually six different categories in which both men and women can compete in, meaning there are a total of 36 medals to be handed out to skiers across the globe here in Sochi.
Cross-country skiing in the Olympics became in 1924 for men and 1952 for women. Short distances of cross-country skiing began in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and the sprint of 1.5 kilometers has become one of the easiest and most popular events within the sport. Women do 1.25 kilometer sprints instead of 1.5 kilometers.
The sprinting for cross-country skiers takes place on Tuesday, February 11th. There will be multiple heats for each of the participants, as there are qualifying times, quarterfinals, semifinals, and finally the medaling runs in which gold, silver, and bronze will be handed out. Team sprints, which involve teams of two in both the men's and ladies' divisions take place on Wednesday, February 19th.
The first events of the Olympics for cross-country skiers are the "skiathlons," a relatively new creation that is exactly what it sounds. The man and woman who beat the Olympics gambling lines in these events are the ones who can go 30 kilometers ( 15 kilometers for women ) in the quickest amount of time. There is a ski change in the middle of the event, and essentially, the skiers have to take a "pit stop" to change their skis. This is all a part of the time of the race, so a mix-up in the change of skis could really hurt in a close race.
On Thursday, February 13th, the ladies take to the slopes for their 10K race, while the men have their 15K race the next day. What's interesting about these races is that the skiers start 30 seconds apart from one another. In the event that you get passed by a skier behind you, you must bow off the trail and get out of the way of the faster skiers, which essentially eliminates you from the event. The fastest times get the medals, not necessarily the first finishers.
There are also relays for Olympic skiers as well. There are teams of four representing each country in the race. The women each run five kilometers before their next teammate can start, while the men each run 10 kilometers.
The final two events on the Olympics wagering lines for skiers is the mass start race. This is where every entrant will start at the same time. The ladies run 30 kilometers, while the men run 50 kilometers, the longest event in cross-country skiing. It is a testament to your speed, strength, and stamina, and the skiers who end up claiming their medals from these two events are certainly amongst the best athletes here in the Olympic Games.
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CROSS COUNTRY SKIING EVENTS
MEN'S EVENTS
- 15km men
- 4x10km relay men
- 50km men
- Combined 15 + 15km mass start men
- Sprint 1,5km men
- Team Sprint men
WOMEN'S EVENTS
- 10km women
- 30km women
- 4x5km relay women
- Combined 7.5 + 7.5km mass star women
- sprint 1.5km women
- Team Sprint women
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