Two descents on January 30 and 31 and a super G on February 1, the Orcières-Merlette European Cup enters its final straight of preparation and the Camile Ricou slope passed the snow control with flying colors at the start of the week . “The track was prepared well in advance because teams came to train on it at the beginning of January” explains Alizée Baron, the event coordinator. A slope to which there are only a few finishing touches to be made before the skiers arrive. There will be nearly 80 athletes battling against the clock next week, including the first three in the general classification of the European Cup: the Austrian Félix Hacker, the Swiss Alessio Miggiano and the Italian Max Perathoner.
Alphand and Gamel-Seigneur among the locals
Sixteen nations will be represented including France which will line up Serre Chevalier skiers Sam Alphand and Charles Gamel-Seigneur, the first returning to the European Cup after two World Cups and the second having signed a European Top 10 in the super G of Pass Thurn, Austria, January 13. The French selection will be led by Alban Elezi Cannaferina, winner of his first European Cup on Tuesday in Reiteralm in Austria in the super G and 3rd in the general classification of the discipline behind the Austrian Vincent Wieser who will also be present. The Frenchman Florian Loriot, 9th in the super G in Bormio in the World Cup at the end of December, will also be there. Fifteen athletes from regional committees will also be lined up, including Orcières skier Thomas Chaix.
Senegal
