Odermatt will skip the descent on the Saslong to prepare for the Gran Risa. Problems for Kryenbuehl and Weber

The (wise) choice of the World Cup leader, in view of the four South Tyrolean races in series. The two unvaccinated sprinters are still in doubt for the Val Gardena (and also Bormio) appointment: the president of Swiss-Ski, Urs Lehmann, is mediating with the FISI.

Thursday 9 December 2021 4 minutes reading time

The first Italian stage of the men's World Cup is approaching, with the Saslong ready to host the jet men in less than a week for the first training, scheduled for Wednesday 15 December, towards the descent on Saturday 18, anticipated by 24 hours from the super -g Val Gardena. He will not take part in the descent, confirmation came from Tom Stauffer at the “Blick”, the leader of the general classification Marco Odermatt; the reason is soon explained, given that the two speed races in Val Gardena will be followed on Sunday and Monday by the two giants on the Gran Risa. To better prepare for the appointment in Alta Badia, certainly more favorable to the Nidwalden phenomenon, “Odi” will save himself a race, obviously competing in the super-g with the red bib as leader of the discipline. In the Swiss home, regarding super-g and next week's downhill, there are doubts about the possibility or not of fielding Urs Kryenbuehl, who returned very well in Beaver Creek after the injury, and Ralph Weber: the the issue is the same that kept them out of the Lake Louise weekend, namely the lack of vaccination against Covid-19. Reto Nydegger, head coach of the Swiss-Ski speed sector, in fact communicated to the two sprinters that he had received a letter from the FISI informing them of the possibility of participating in the races in Gardena and Bormio, only if vaccinated. Considering the excellent relations between the federations, just think of the Zermatt-Cervinia project for the speed opening of the World Cup, Urs Lehmann is talking to Flavio Roda to resolve the issue, but the number 1 of the Swiss federation himself has clarified. "I had an excellent conversation with President Roda and I have good feelings on the matter, but we await a definitive answer". While rumors were also racing about the possibility that Kitzbuehel would prevent athletes presenting only a negative buffer from competing, the grand head of the Hahnenkamm-Rennen organizing committee, Michael Huber, clarified to Blick that "at present there is no "it is no obligation for our competitions".

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