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Alpine Skiing World Championships: Les Bleus Pinturault and Faivre attack the giant Odermatt

2023-02-16T19:17:59.418Z


The Swiss world number 1 will start as the giant's favorite on Friday in Courchevel, with, among its (many) competitors, a French tandem.


Title holder: Mathieu Faivre

Two years ago, Mathieu Faivre won two gold medals in Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the individual parallel and in the giant.

But the slopes of the Dolomites seem far away for the Niçois... The 31-year-old skier is going through a dark season in the World Cup, which is explained in particular by a change of equipment last summer.

His best result of the winter is 17th place, among the six giants disputed.

"

My situation is not ideal, I find it difficult to take pleasure in competition and in training because I find it difficult to dominate what I do

", he explained before the second week of testing.

"

With my season, I don't feel like a favorite anyway

".

Difficulties still confirmed on Tuesday evening with his elimination from the qualifications of the parallel.

Now, not many people would have bet a coin on his victory two years ago so who knows…

The other Frenchman: Alexis Pinturault

With Faivre's poor form, French hopes rest - once again - on Alexis Pinturault.

Brilliant during the first week (gold in the combined, bronze in the super-G), the leader of the France team has already succeeded in his Worlds.

What to conclude while relaxing the competition.

On Wednesday, the Courchevel skier was eliminated in the round of 16 of the individual parallel, which he only competed for “

not to arrive with a floured face on the giant.

The goal was to regain the sensations of the race, to take small marks on this snow which is changing

“, he explained after his elimination, while the temperatures rise in the Savoyard station.

Bronze medalist in this event at Vail/Beaver Creek (United States) in 2015 then at Are (Sweden) in 2019, the Courchevel skier can aim better, even if he did not reach the podium in the discipline in the World Cup this winter.

French world champions

Go to slideshow (13)

Favorite: Marco Odermatt

Finally crowned, what's more in the queen event of the downhill, Marco Odermatt now has the crown of king befitting his status as world number 1.

Olympic champion in the discipline last year in Beijing, and winner of four of the six giants contested this winter, the Swiss is the huge favorite of the event.

"

When you win once, you want to win a second time... so it's not over

", he warned, mischievously, after last week's descent, the "

race of (s)a life

”.

The number: 3

Like the number of giant second places won by the volcanic Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen this winter, once behind his compatriot Lucas Braathen, and twice behind Odermatt.

"

Kristo

", the 2019 world champion of Giant, is one of the favorites for the podium.

Braathen, he remains uncertain, after having been operated on for appendicitis just before the Worlds.

The program

The first round of the giant will start at 10:00 a.m. on the Eclipse track in Courchevel.

And honor be given, the first to start will be world number 1 Marco Odermatt, before Kristoffersen.

So potentially the two big favorites for the title.

In the French clan, Alexis Pinturault will start with bib 6, Mathieu Faivre with number 9, Léo Anguenot with 28 and the young Alban Elezi Cannaferina with 40. Knowing that 100 skiers will compete in this first act.

The second will begin at 1:30 p.m.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2023-02-16

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