Oberstdorf (Germany) (AFP)
Eyes will once again be turned to slopestyle this weekend, where Tess Ledeux will want to confirm her good form just before flying to the X Games in Aspen (Colorado). The other Blues to watch will be the skicrossers, who meet in the cold of Nakiska, Canada.
. Slopestyle: Ledeux, act II
Tess Ledeux, who won the opening round of the Slopestyle World Cup in Font-Romeu last weekend, tests himself again on Saturday on the Seiseralm track in Italy. The double world champion (slopestyle in 2017, big air in 2019) will then continue with the prestigious X Games in Aspen (Colorado) from January 23 to 26.
. Ski Cross
The Blues are meeting in Nakiska, Canada, where the mercury dropped to -30 ° C earlier this week, forcing officials on site to temporarily close the station until Thursday. The weather forecasts less extreme temperatures for this weekend, but still very negative.
The Frenchman best classified in world cup after the first six stages is Bastien Midol, holding the title of the big globe, third but already at 148 points from the Canadian leader Kevin Drury (a victory brings back 100 points).
His three stooges are all in the top-10: Jean-Frédéric Chapuis, the 2014 Olympic champion, is 7th, his brother Jonathan Midol 9th, and the reigning world champion François Place 10th.
. Cross-country skiing: Manifestat package at Nove Mesto
Maurice Manificat, who is slowly entering his season, has withdrawn from the world cup stage of Nove Mesto in the Czech Republic this weekend. "After a bronchitis contracted during the Tour de ski, I'm dragging an ugly virus over and over and over," writes the 33-year-old champion on his Twitter account, "it's a big disappointment because the program is magnificent I hope to be operational for Oberstdorf "on January 25 and 26.
Too bad, because the 15 km free Saturday followed by a classic pursuit on Sunday is a format tailored for the native of Sallanches. It was over 15 km that he managed his only top 10 this season, with a 5th place on December 15 in Davos.
He will be replaced at Nove Mesto by Valentin Chauvin.
The weekend program:
Saturday 18th
FREESTYLE SKI
Skicross World Cup in Nakiska / Canada
Slopestyle World Cup in Seiseralm / Italy
Aerials World Cup in St. Petersburg / Russia
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
15 km Classic World Cup in Nove Mesto / Czech Republic (11.15)
Ladies' Classic World Cup 10 km in Nove Mesto / Czech Republic (09.45)
SKI JUMPING
World Cup in Titisee-Neustadt (Germany)
Gentlemen (16.00)
World Cup in Zao / Japan
Ladies' teams (09.00)
Sunday 19
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
World Cup in Nove Mesto / Czech Rep
Pursuit Gentlemen and Ladies (13.00)
SKI JUMPING
World Cup in Titisee-Neustadt (Germany)
Individual Gentlemen (15.15)
World Cup in Zao / Japan
Individual Ladies (08.00)
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