The structure of sprint cross-country skiing events is quite unique, as it involves four high-intensity heats (each ~3 min in duration) separated by a relatively short recovery period (15–60 min).

Numerous physiological, biomechanical, anthropometric, and neuromuscular factors exert an impact on sprint skiing performance. The key factors that promote good performance include well-developed aerobic and anaerobic capacities, adequate strength and ski-specific power, a high proportion of lean mass, effective skiing biomechanics, and an ability to attain and maintain high speeds during a single heat, as well as a series of heats.