Ski World Cup in Val d’Isère: The athletes to follow with Clément Noël, Marco Odermatt and Alexis Pinturault
Will Clément Noël make it three?
In great shape at the start of the season, Clement Noel will be supported by all French fans in Val d’Isère. He is aiming for a third consecutive victory in slalom after Levi (Finland) and Gurgl (Austria).
The Olympic champion, local hero in Val d’Isère, will also be in the giant race thanks to his WCSL points and his slalom results. He will have bib 31.
Pressure on Marco Odermatt
After achieving the first Brazilian podium in World Cup history in Beaver Creek, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen will want to continue writing history during the Critérium de la Première neige. He is currently leader of the Giant event ranking after two races, ahead of the Norwegians Alexander Steen Olsen et Henrik Kristoffersen.
Another highly anticipated skier in Val d’Isère, Marco Odermatt. After a dazzling last season where he won the first 9 giant races, the Swiss remains on three consecutive retirements from this event, counting the final in Saalbach last March. To hope to keep his giant title, he must react this weekend.
The doorto confirm
Alexis Pinturault reassured after his good results at Beaver Creek in the United States of America. Returning to competition after his serious injury last January, the winner of the general classification of the World Cup in 2021 took a convincing 10th place in super-G. Enough to fill up on confidence for this stage in Val d’Isère, where he will line up like a giant.
Mathieu Faivre absent
Clément Noël is not the only Frenchman to have had an excellent start to the season. The 26-year-old skier Steven Amiez continued good performances with a 6th place in Levi (Finland) and a 4th place in Burgl (Austria). 4th place last year in the slalom event rankings, this season he has the means to finish in the top 10.
Note, on the French side, the absence of the selection for Val d’Isère of Mathieu Faivre. The bronze medalist in giant slalom at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Gamesdecided to skip this stage, declaring through his social networks: “I haven’t had fun on skis for a long time and the decision was made not to let me race in Val d’Isère . »
The French Flavius Vitale et Alban Elezi Cannaferina, promoted after their results in the European Cup, will be there.
READ ALSO – Gurgl slalom: Clément Noël wins a second consecutive victory
