Chamonix (France) (AFP)
The slalomers of the France team, who remain on a double podium Tuesday in Schladming (Noël 2nd, Pinturault 3rd), present themselves in Chamonix with very different objectives for two slaloms on Saturday and Sunday, last technical races before the Cortina Worlds. (February 8-21).
But the program could be disrupted by the terrible weather that reigns in the Arve valley, where the positive temperatures favor the rain which falls almost continuously since Thursday and should continue until Saturday.
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Pinturault: the big globe
Alexis Pinturault remains on two podiums in slalom (3rd in Flachau then in Schladming on Tuesday), two excellent performances for him who is aiming for the general classification of the World Cup.
With one less threat since the injury of Norwegian title holder Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, Pinturault is well in the lead, 253 points ahead of Marco Odermatt.
He can drive home the point this weekend as the Swiss do not compete in the slaloms.
Be careful, however, of the potential comeback of the Austrian Marco Schwarz, formidable in slalom (6 podiums including two victories in seven races, wide leader in the specialty) and 3rd at 294 points overall.
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Christmas: victory at all costs
After a frustrating start to the season, Clément Noël once again tasted the podium, twice in the last three slaloms (2nd in Flachau then in Schladming on Tuesday), without yet being able to ski perfectly over two full heats.
With three victories per season in the last two winters, he misses the flavor of success and makes it his only goal, now that he is well behind in the race for the small globe (6th at 216 points).
"What I want is to win races. To do it with the dense level that there is, you have to give 100% and take the risk of making mistakes, he explained during a press point. But we don't necessarily take 100% more risk than by being a little cautious. That's the goal of my next races, to ski free and especially not to keep it under our feet. "
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Muffat-Jeandet: a first podium
The versatile Victor Muffat-Jeandet, very comfortable in slalom at the start of winter, had never seemed so close to picking up his first career podium in the discipline.
After missing a great opportunity at Madonna di Campiglio at the end of December (2nd in the first round, out in second), he must find his ski, which has disintegrated for four races (no top-10).
"I had three last more complicated races in slalom, I didn't really know how to adapt to the conditions, I strayed from my technical guidelines. The podium I saw that I had the level for, but these last races gave me a kick in the buttocks, ”he said.
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Barn: Monsieur Mondiaux
At 36, Jean-Baptiste Grange no longer seems to be able to play the leading roles every weekend.
Returning from a serious left knee injury two years ago, the winner of the small globe in 2009 remains capable of pretty blows, as evidenced by his 6th place in Madonna di Campiglio at the end of December.
A huge opportunity is presented to him in less than a month with the slalom of the Cortina Worlds on February 21, when he is already double world champion (2011 and 2015) and bronze medalist (2007).
It's up to him to take advantage of Chamonix to reassure himself and improve his world ranking (currently 20th) to maximize his chances.
Program of the Chamonix Men's Alpine Skiing World Cup:
Saturday January 30: slalom, 1st round at 9:30 a.m., 2nd round at 12:30 p.m.
Sunday January 31: slalom, 1st round at 9:30 a.m., 2nd round at 12:30 p.m.
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