It’s official! There will be a record attendance in Wengen. The organizers announced that they have already sold more than 76,000 tickets for the three days of competition. Driven by the exceptional season for Swiss skiers, popular enthusiasm is currently reaching heights worthy of the Eiger and Jungfrau and large crowds are expected in the Bernese Oberland…
In this context of popular euphoria, Friday’s super-G will be more than an appetizer. Marco Odermatt will enter the starting gate as the super favorite. The Nidwalden could complete a twentieth race in the discipline without falling out of the top 5. Consistency at the highest level is extraordinary for someone who has two super-G crystal globes. The Swiss ski star brings a very ambitious team in his wake. Monney, von Allmen, Murisier, Meillard: all can eye the podium. Normally, Stefan Rogentin would also be on the list, but the Grison suffered a serious fall in training on Tuesday. It’s difficult to know if he will be at 100% capacity this weekend.
Be careful, the Swiss are not alone on earth! Competition is very present and it is personified by Fredrik Moeller. At the start of the season, with his bib 32, the Norwegian was almost unknown. But everything can happen very quickly on the White Circus. Victorious in Bormio, just off the podium in Beaver Creek and Val Gardena, Moeller is already 2nd in the discipline’s ranking and now stands out as Odermatt’s great rival.
The big moment
All eyes are naturally already on Saturday and the descent. Expectations are enormous in the Swiss camp since the men coached by Reto Nydegger achieved doubles in the first three descents of the season. At home, in front of a delirious audience gathered on the hill opposite the Tête de Chien, it was impossible to do less well. But if in history the Swiss have often shone on the Lauberhorn (14 successes since the start of the World Cup), they have never achieved the double.
Last year, Odermatt literally crushed the competition, relegating Sarrazin to 6 tenths and Paris, 3rd, almost 2 seconds behind. As in giant Adelboden, the Swiss supporters have only one scenario in mind: a success for the Nidwalden. There is also a lot of attention surrounding Alexis Monney. Winner of the Bormio downhill and 3rd in the Super G, the Fribourgeois must manage a new status. A humble character, aware of his strengths and weaknesses, he seemed very calm throughout the week. He seems ready to confirm his Italian performances.
For Justin Murisier, his victory at Beaver Creek proves that he has made a successful transition to speed. The Valaisan has nevertheless been struggling with a painful knee since the start of the season. Lagging behind during training, he relies on the adrenaline of the race to surpass himself. Which he usually does very well. The key to success for him will be not to waste too much time on the upper part. The stage’s local, Franjo von Allmen, also hopes to shine on the Bernese snow. Author of two podiums in three descents, he is in 2nd place in the ranking of the premier discipline. Fifth in Wednesday’s training, he was the best Swiss. He notably excelled on the legendary dog’s head sequence, Canadian Corner, Kernen-S.
It should also be noted that the Swiss leaders were timid during the two training sessions, notably leaving the spotlight to the American Cochran-Siegle, winner on Wednesday, ahead of Sejersted and Casse. The Italian, already 3e Tuesday, seems very comfortable on the Lauberhorn this year. Among the main opponents of the Swiss, we cannot forget Kriechmayr. Winner twice in the Bernese Oberland, he has the difficult task of finally offering success to the Austrian men’s team this season…
Wengen, John Nicolet
>> Also read: Arnaud Boisset is counting on the energy of the public to “unblock things” et Meeting with Alexis Monney, the hero of Bormio, ready to attack the Lauberhorn
