Will the end of the alpine ski season be truncated?
With the restrictions put in place to fight against the spread of Covid-19, the hypothesis is becoming increasingly thicker.
"We will have no qualms about canceling races," explains Michel Vion, vice-president of the International Ski Federation (FIS).
This is the idea in the meetings that we have every day ... Since the start of the season, the idea was to put the focus on the Worlds.
We do everything to arrive with all the athletes in good shape.
These Worlds will be able to take place a priori correctly
(Editor's note: in Cortina d'Ampezzo from February 8)
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After the Worlds, we will see what to put in place.
Countries like Norway have already established fortnights, so it will be difficult to go to Norway to end the World Cup season.
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Many countries are changing the state of their borders as the pandemic evolves.
Norway, for example, has just decided to close its doors until mid-February.
And two World Cup rounds are scheduled on the Kvitjell site on March 6 and 7… This season, some races have had to be relocated, but none have yet been canceled.
Pinturault in pole position for the big globe
“We must not imagine that we will decide tomorrow morning that everything is going to be canceled, continues Vion.
But depending on the country, it may be necessary not to compete after the Worlds.
Our second focus will be the finals
(Editor's note: in Switzerland in Lenzerheide from March 15 to 21)
, that they can be done correctly.
In the meantime, there will inevitably be countries that will not be able to host events.
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Last winter, the health situation forced the FIS to end the season prematurely and ratify all rankings.
To the chagrin of Alexis Pinturault, second overall within reach (54 pts) of the Norwegian Kilde and who had to make a cross on his first large crystal globe, with the cancellation of the last two races in Slovenia.
⛷️🇫🇷 We were waiting for Christmas, we had Pinturault!
Superb performance of the Habs with this provisional second place (Kristoffersen made his own in stride) #ChaletClub
The end of the first round and the start of the second (12:30), it happens on Eurosport 1 📺 pic.twitter.com/ b681Ec0K6L
- Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) January 31, 2021
Wink of history, the world champion of the combined could find himself in the opposite situation this winter.
With the difference that the triple Olympic medalist, who took 8th place in the two slaloms contested this weekend in Chamonix, this time has a very large lead (258 pts) over the Austrian Marco Schwarz after 25 of the 37 races scheduled. .
Barring a disaster, the native of Moutiers is on a royal road to succeed Luc Alphand, the last winner of the trophy 24 years ago ...
