From Wednesday, the White Circus will meet in Courchevel and Méribel for the World Cup finals. On the 2023 Worlds site, Beat Feuz is aiming for a 5th consecutive downhill globe.
But to join Franz Klammer and his 5 crowns, the Emmentalois will have to work hard and have a little luck. Before this last descent of the season, “Kugelblitz” is indeed 23 points behind Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. That means there have to be runners coming between the two men for Feuz to throw up his arms.
One thing is certain, the Norwegian and the Olympic champion will start on an equal footing. Nobody knows this new track called the Eclipse. A bit like in Yanqing in February when the Bernese won gold.
Among the ladies, it is Corinne Suter who can maintain the hope of the downhill globe. Victorious in 2020, the Olympic champion is 75 points behind Sofia Goggia. The Italian can therefore settle for 10th place to remove the globe from the discipline.
The thrilling Shiffrin-Vlhova duel
But in France, it is the Shiffrin-Vlhova fight that will hold the attention. In the general classification of the World Cup, Mikaela Shiffrin approaches the last 4 races of the season with 56 points ahead of Petra Vlhova (1245-1189). It is quite possible that this exciting duel will not be decided until Sunday during the giant.
A giant where the Crystal Globe has yet to be awarded. Olympic champion Sara Hector is best placed with 522 points, ahead of Tessa Worley (517), Shiffrin (471) and Vlhova (431).
The last discipline where there is real uncertainty is the men’s slalom. With 371 points, the Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen, in great form lately, is clearly in pole position for his third slalom globe, ahead of his compatriot Lucas Braathen (323). Behind, Linus Strasser (307), Manuel Feller (301) and Daniel Yule (283) still have, on paper, chances of triumph.
ats / adav
