How does a cross-country relay work?
I · Intermediate · The races · 4 of 7A relay team has four skiers, each racing one leg; at the Olympics the first two legs are classic and the last two free. The handover is a touch of the hand in the exchange zone. In a team sprint two skiers alternate, each skiing three to six legs, after a qualification round. Pushing the next skier off is banned.
How it works
- Relay team: three or four skiers; four at the Olympics, World Cup and World Championships.
- One leg each: a skier who skis two legs is disqualified.
- Techniques: legs 1 and 2 classic, legs 3 and 4 free at top events.
- Exchange: a touch on any part of the next skier, both inside the zone.
- Bib colours: red, green, yellow and blue by leg.
- Team sprint: two skiers alternate three to six legs each; a qualification first.
- Exchange faults: at least 30 seconds in relays, 15 in team sprints.
- Result: the order the final skiers finish.
The glossary has the relay, the team sprint, the team event, the mass start, the lapped skier and the bib.
Tricky cases
The next skier leaves before being touched. Penalty?
Yes. An exchange fault brings at least 30 seconds in a relay.
Can a team change its order at the last minute?
No. Names and order are due two hours before the team captains' meeting, and substitutes cannot change the order.
Can one skier race two legs if a teammate is ill?
No. That disqualifies the team.
A team is lapped. Do they keep skiing?
No. Lapped teams stop and are ranked by their last split.
Why the rule exists
A hand touch in a marked zone makes every handover clear and checkable. Mixing techniques by leg asks teams for depth in both.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Olympic relay | 4 x 7.5 km, two classic legs then two free | FIS 310.3.1, 327.1.2 |
| Junior and under-23 | Mixed relay, M/W/M/W | FIS 310.3.3 |
| Team sprint final | About 15 teams | FIS 326.4.2.2 |
From the rule book
FIS, ICR Book II: Cross-Country (June 2026), articles 326, 327, 343.13 and 352.4.3. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the FIS ICR, revised by the FIS Council each season.