Dresden is staging the latest FIS Cross-Country World Cup races ©Getty Images

The International Ski Federation (FIS) Cross-Country World Cup circuit stops in Dresden this weekend for sprint racing in the city centre.

Men's and women's freestyle sprints are scheduled tomorrow, before team sprint relays take place on Sunday (December 19).

Maja Dahlqvist will be the centre of attention in the women's racing, having won all three sprint events so far this season.

Dahlqvist's 332 sprint points are more than double the next-best total, 156 from Nadine Fähndrich.

Dahlqvist's Sweden are the back-to-back team sprint world champions, so she will also be a medal favourite in the team event.

Maja Dahlqvist has dominated sprint racing so far this season ©Getty Images
Maja Dahlqvist has dominated sprint racing so far this season ©Getty Images

An under-strength Norway team has been sent to the German city, and that will mainly be felt in the men's competition.

Overall FIS Cross-Country World Cup leader Johannes Høsflot Klæbo will be absent, and so too Erik Valnes.

Italian Federico Pellegrino, a Pyeongchang 2018 silver medallist in the individual sprint, is one of the headline entries.

Spectators will not be able to attend because of COVID-19 restrictions.