Kitzbühel (Austria) (AFP)

The men's alpine ski circuit faces, behind closed doors from Friday to Sunday, the Austrian myth of Kitzbühel where a double descent of the terrible Streif awaits him in two days, for a real physical challenge.

Without doing it dishonor, the caloric Austrian cuisine, somewhat allergic to greenery - between fried meat from Wiener Schnietzel (Viennese cutlets), goulash and other sausages washed down with blond beer - is not always the most digestible.

Indigestion is precisely what threatens the speed specialists in Kitzbühel, some of whom have five starts in five days (2 official training sessions, 2 descents and 1 super-G), who do not however seem afraid of the test.

"The main difference is having three sprint races (usually 2 plus a slalom), which will cost more mental energy. But since Wengen was canceled last week, we come here with more energy ", notes the Norwegian Kjetil Jansrud, winner of the descent of" Kitz "in 2015.

The other classic of the season, in Wengen (Switzerland), was indeed canceled last week because of too many cases of Covid-19 in the station, allowing Kitzbühel to recover a descent.

"It's our job, it's up to us to manage ourselves. I've eaten months of physical preparation all this spring and all this summer and again in recent weeks, so physically I can tell you that I'm ready", assures the Frenchman Matthieu Bailet.

- "Grit one's teeth" -

The sequence of two descents is not unprecedented, it was recurrent on the Hahnenkamm (Rooster crest, the nickname of the mountain) in the 1980s and 1990s.

In 1995, due to the weather, two slightly shortened descents were even organized on the same day, for a double triumph for Frenchman Luc Alphand a few hours apart.

"Without doing a cool race, they can handle the training a bit, some sections, where you don't take all the risks, advises Alphand, the last French winner of the myth (in 1997). But physically they will not have to worry about + swinging + two minutes a day. "

"It's going to be a long week, from which we will leave rinsed, and the head can take precedence over the physical, estimates for his part Maxence Muzaton, 5th last year. At the end of the second descent, we will be more started. physically and whoever grits their teeth a second longer will make the difference. "

The Streif, who usually smiles at experienced skiers, will be an excellent eye-opener for young Swiss Marco Odermatt.

At 23, the serious injury of the big-globe title holder Aleksander Aamodt Kile propelled Odermatt to 2nd place in the general classification, in the first rival of Alexis Pinturault, who will be present for the super-G on Sunday.

277 points behind the French, Odermatt, excellent in giant and solid in super-G so far, must take advantage of the descents to score points if he wants to titillate the French who does not dispute them.

"I am not thinking of the general classification, Alexis Pinturault is too strong this year," he nevertheless assured Wednesday, pushing back any form of pressure.

Kitzbühel Men's Alpine Skiing World Cup Program:

Friday: first descent, at 11:30 am

Saturday: second descent, at 11:30 am

Sunday: super-G, at 10:30 a.m.

© 2021 AFP