Alpine skiing – World Cup. Mikaela Shiffrin on course for record, first French win, Marco Odermatt in bull’s eye… What you need to know ahead of Zagreb, Garmiš, Kranjska Gora and Adelboden
A busy week at the Alpine Skiing World Cup with men’s and women’s program (giant and slalom) technical World Cups in Zagreb (Croatia), Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany), Kranjska Gora (Slovenia) and Adelboden (Switzerland). If the French are still looking for a first victory, the American Mikaela Shiffrin can enter the legend a little more.
Program: 4 places, 7 races
The week starts with two women’s slalom races in Zagreb, Croatia. First Wednesday (12.30; 16.30), second Thursday night (15.00; 18.00). The men will be in an overnight slalom in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany on Wednesday (3:40 p.m.; 6:45 p.m.).
Off to Slovenia and Switzerland for the second part of the week. Slovenia and Kranjska Gora for the ladies: two giants on Saturday and Sunday (9.30am; 12.30pm). Switzerland and the legendary Adelboden stage for men: giant on Saturday (10.30am; 1.30pm) and slalom race on Sunday (10.30am; 1.30pm). Like Adelboden, Kranjska Gora also has positive temperatures and maybe some snow on Sunday.
Record: Mikaela Shiffrin may pass Lindsey Vonn
Two slaloms in Zagreb, two giants in Kranjska Gora… What if the Women’s World Cup winning record was broken by Mikaela Shiffrin this week? She is now only two lengths behind compatriot Lindsey Vonn… And she will find suitable ground in both Croatia and Slovenia.
The American, who has already won three slaloms this season, has already won the Crveni race four times (2013, 2015, 2018 and 2019). Two successes already at Podkoren 3 (doubled up in giant and slalom in 2018)… After two tough giants at Killington (13)e) and Sestières (6e), the Colorado skier won both from Semmering. If she continues her momentum into early 2023, this week could allow her to not only overtake Lindsey Vonn, but also get very close to Ingemar Stenmark (86 wins).
Blues corner: first win at last?
The ever-evolving Tessa Worley is closing in on podium and giant victory after giant victory. After four top ten finishes in four races, he can build on his success at Kranjska Gora, where he has four podiums, including a win in 2012.
The other main chances of podiums and victories on the French side are on the men’s side. Olympic champion Clément Noel, frustrated by three retirements in three races since the start of the academic year (five in his last six World Cups), is still racing. Last year in Garmisch-Partenkirchen… He refused twice! In Adelboden, he has his first podium at this level (in 2019).
Favorites: Odermatt bullseye at home?
In the slaloms of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Adelboden, along with Clément Noël, Alexis Pinturault and Victor Muffat-Jeandet, you will once again have to watch the Norwegian Vikings, the experienced Henrik Kristoffersen (double winner in 2022) and the nugget Lukas. (Winner at Val d’Isère). The Swiss also come with confident elements such as Daniel Yule (winner at Madonna) or Loic Meillard. Austrian Manuel Feller and local Linus Strasser are also there.
We take the same as the main favorites at home with Marco Odermatt at the Swiss giants. The leader who won the World Cup in a warm atmosphere in 2022 will want to do a double. If the Swiss at least gets on the podium, he will pass the 1,000 World Cup points mark this season (he currently has 946). We have to go back to March 20, 2021 to knock Odi off the giant podium from the twelve starts since then (including 8 wins).
