Lake Placid World Cup Finals: How to Watch
Credit: Olympic Regional Development Authority
The World Cup Finals in Lake Placid are not just another race weekend. They are the end of the season, the first World Cup Finals ever held in the United States, and the final World Cup races of Jessie Diggins’ career.
If you’re watching from home, here’s how to follow it all.
For viewers in the United States, the main option is Outside TV, which provides full live coverage of the races across all three days. For key events, broadcasts will also be available on NBC and CNBC, with streaming on Peacock.
NBC will air the Skate Sprint Finals live on Saturday, March 21, from 1–2 p.m. ET.
CNBC will air coverage of the Men’s and Women’s 10 km classic interval start on Saturday, March 21, from 2–4 p.m. ET.
NBC will also air the Women’s 20 km Skate Mass Start on Saturday, March 29, from 1–2 p.m. ET (tape delay).
The weekend begins on Friday with the 10 km classic interval start races — a format focused on pacing, technique, and strategy. Saturday brings skate sprint racing, the most dynamic and TV-friendly part of the program, with short heats and head-to-head action. Sunday closes the season with a skate mass start, where the entire field competes together and the final standings are decided on the snow.
If you can only watch part of the weekend, focus on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday delivers excitement.
Sunday delivers meaning.
Together, they capture both the intensity and the emotion of the World Cup Finals.
For those fortunate enough to be in Lake Placid or nearby, watching the World Cup Finals live is an entirely different experience.
The races take place at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, one of the premier Nordic venues in North America and a site deeply rooted in Olympic history. Tickets are available for all three days, with options ranging from single-day passes to full weekend access. Spectator areas line key sections of the course, including stadium views where you can feel the speed, hear the skis, and experience the intensity up close.
The venue also comes alive beyond the races, with a compact festival village, food, family-friendly activities, and community events that make the weekend feel like more than just competition.
To plan your days — including race times, festival events, and what not to miss — see our full guide: Lake Placid World Cup Finals: Schedule, Festival, and What to Expect
Tickets are in high demand and may sell out — if you’re planning to attend, secure yours as soon as possible at https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/xcworldcupfinals/.
Watching live also gives you something TV can’t fully capture — the flow of the race across the course. You can move between sections, catch multiple passes, and witness tactics unfold in real time, from pacing in the distance races to positioning battles in the sprints.
If you’re within driving distance, this is one of those rare opportunities — not just to watch the World Cup, but to feel it!