The 35-year-old from Salzburg, who is already listed on the FIS website as starting for the Netherlands, has been suffering from a dry cough and fever since last week. Of course, he still has enough time until the start of the giant slalom in Sölden on October 27th.
Ex-ÖSV President Peter Schröcksnadel advised Hirscher against returning to Sölden on Monday evening in the “Sport and Talk Special” on ServusTV, regardless of the illness.
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“Sölden is one of the most difficult races ever. He wouldn’t be very smart if he drove that. It’s the most difficult race and entering the most difficult race is not wise. Val d’Isere is also steep, but much easier driving, momentum after momentum. “Marcel certainly knows exactly what he’s doing. If he wasn’t sure that he was at the front, he wouldn’t be driving,” believes the Tyrolean.
Ex-Slalom World Cup overall winner Reinfried Herbst sees it similarly. “If Val d’Isere were there before, it would be even more perfect. Because it’s swing on swing, it’s exactly his. That would fit even better in terms of entry, the desired character.”
Schröcksnadel expressed full understanding for the eight-time overall World Cup winner’s change of nation. “I understand it because he wants a new environment. I believe he has taken the right step. He has his coaches and everything is ready for him and he will not be distracted.”
Hirscher also justified it by saying that he doesn’t want to take a place away from anyone in the ÖSV. “He wouldn’t have taken a place away from anyone. He’s so good that he’s so far ahead that many people would stay at home,” speculated Schröcksnadel. He also sees a new type of fans: “Today you are for Bayern, no matter who plays there. I am a Messi fan, no matter where he plays. There will also be Hirscher fans. It will be more diverse and I think that’s good .” He also sees a “boost” for tourism from the Netherlands.
