2023-06-30 08:53:55
It was in the pipes for a few weeks, it is now confirmed. The first team combined of the Women’s World Cup will take place in Crans-Montana, a few weeks following the first men’s in Kitzbühel. Thus, the Haut-Plateau resort will host next winter not only the best downhillers and super-giants on the planet, but also the best slalomists.
“It’s a great source of pride, rejoices Marius Robyr, president of the organizing committee. We are honored that the FIS chose Crans-Montana for this premiere, it proves its confidence. On our side, we spontaneously accepted this proposal, knowing that there will be costs and additional work. But we will be ready.” The race will take place on Friday, February 16.
Forty teams expected by the FIS
Concretely, two athletes from the same nation will team up, each of them competing in one of the heats. Their times will be added together to establish a ranking. To define the number of teams at the start, the FIS has decided to retain the national quotas available in the downhill. Thus, Switzerland might line up in the best case 9 teams in 2024, bringing together 9 downhillers and as many slalomers. The participation of regarding forty teams is expected.
In order to make the event attractive, World Cup points will be awarded to the participants (like the participants in Kitzbühel). These will share them. A victory will therefore earn 50 points for each athlete on the winning team. “The IOC was not happy with the image of the last Olympic Alpine Combined in Beijing, explains Peter Gerdol, director of the Women’s World Cup. He asked us to do something new, different. The idea came mainly from the athletes. They are the ones who suggested this new format.”
This format has already been successfully tested at the last Junior World Championships in Sankt Anton. “I was quite skeptical at first but in the end, I think it can be a very interesting and even very tactical format,” said double Olympic combined champion Michelle Gisin, who does not yet know if she will compete in the downhill or the slalom.
On the program of the next Olympic Games
The IOC has already confirmed that the team combined will be on the program for the next Games in 2026. “It will also be at the World Championships in Saalbach in 2025 and, we hope, in Crans-Montana in 2027, confirms Peter Gerdol. We have yet to see the first feedback but so far it is positive.” The expert was present this week in Valais in order to settle the last details within a delegation of the FIS. It has thus been confirmed that all of the spectacular downhill and slalom runs will be used.
Note that the rest of the program is confirmed in Crans-Montana. A downhill will take place on Saturday 17 February and a super-G on Sunday 18. Downhill training on the Mont-Lachaux piste is scheduled for Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 February. The European Cup will stop on the Haut-Plateau from February 8 to 11.
Johan Tachet & Laurent Morel, Crans-Montana
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