Val d'Isère (France) (AFP)

Alexis Pinturault, after a rough start to the season, must mark his territory in the race for the big Globe on the stage of the Alpine Ski World Cup in Val d'Isère this weekend, where Clément Noël is looking to confirm in slalom an excellent start.

The hellish pace of the World Cup has already started, ignoring recovery and time zones. Returning Monday from the United States, Alexis Pinturault must ski fast as of Saturday in Val d'Isère, in the French Alps, to stay in the race for the big crystal Globe, the Grail of any skier.

The combined world champion came back half-fig, half-grape from Beaver Creek: a precious fourth place in the super-G which enabled him to score important points in speed - something that other "technical" skiers are not capable of. "like Henrik Kristoffersen- but a very disappointing 17th place on the giant, yet his specialty.

A record like its start to the season, marked by a resounding victory over the opening giant of Sölden (Austria) at the end of October, then by a sad elimination in the first round of the Levi slalom (Finland) at the end of November.

- "Winter is long" -

"I do not necessarily want to experience ups and downs, but it is the lot of any sportsman, philosopher the skier of Courchevel. I remain calm, winter is long, I must stay focused, and give the maximum to each times. I have a lot of + jokers +. "

"Beaver Creek was never a place where I could express myself well. Now, we attack giants who are more successful, especially that of Val d'Isère", where he has two victories.

In this season marked by the retirement of the untouchable Austrian Marcel Hirscher, eightfold holder of the title of the general classification, Pinturault (28 years), second last winter, must not leave too many points en route. He is currently eighth overall 69 points behind leader Matthias Mayer, also Austrian and speed specialist.

"We can make two judgments on the start of the season for Alexis, believes his coach Fabien Munier. If we look at the figures, he is ahead of his scoreboard (he had 131 points less last year at the same period with one less race). But if I do a more detailed analysis of his level in training, we can be a little bit bitter, because he could have done much better. But I'm not worried, and he Neither does he want to do well and not to be mistaken, we readjust daily mistakes that may have been made by him or by us (management). "

- "I've progressed" -

Contrary to usual, Saturday will be devoted to slalom. Significant snowfall envelops Val d'Isère on Friday and is also expected on Saturday, and a slalom remains easier to "prepare" (shorter track) than a giant in difficult weather conditions.

The slalom specialist Clément Noël thus enters the scene on Saturday, at home in the resort where the Vosgien lived three years at the end of his adolescence to rise to the highest level.

Revelation of the previous season (four podiums including three victories), Clément Noël ideally launched his winter with a 2nd place at Levi behind the Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen.

"Compared to the same period last year, I think I am a little better. I have progressed in several areas this summer, I feel more complete, he notes. I have more expectations of myself myself, but I try not to ask myself too many questions. "

The Blues line up notably Victor Muffat-Jeandet, revived by a fifth place to the giant of Beaver Creek, and the double world champion Jean-Baptiste Grange, for his second race since a serious injury to the left knee in January.

Program:

Saturday December 14: slalom, first round at 9:30 a.m., second round at 1:00 p.m.

Sunday December 15: giant, first round at 9:30 a.m., second round at 12:30 p.m.

© 2019 AFP