Sölden (Austria) (AFP)

After a year of skiing behind closed doors, the Austrian Tyrolean resort should reconnect with a somewhat forgotten atmosphere with thousands of spectators expected at the bottom of the Rettenbach glacier, at more than 3,000 meters above sea level, to welcome the return to the competition of Petra Vlhova, Mikaela Shiffrin, Alexis Pinturault and the others.

But this semblance of a return to normal is accompanied by still strict health measures to allow the course of this pre-Olympic season.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) announced a protocol similar to that of last winter, where no World Cup stage had been canceled for health reasons, apart from the Olympic test event planned in China.

Twenty-two positive cases for Covid-19 were detected on the 32 stages of its main circuit in 2020-2021, according to the FIS.

A negative PCR test before the event therefore remains compulsory for all participants (skiers, staff, organizers, media, etc.).

The widespread vaccination did not soften this part of the protocol.

It simply avoids re-testing during the event (every two or three days otherwise).

Logistics fog at the Olympics

A hot spot remains with countries requiring unvaccinated entrants to be in isolation for two weeks, such as Canada, host of the men's (November 26-28) then women's (December 3-5) races.

According to the specialized site skiactu.ch, several Swiss headliners were not vaccinated at the beginning of the fall, questioning their presence in Lake Louise.

The American Mikaela Shiffrin during the giant slalom in Lenzerheide (Switzerland) on March 21, 2021 Fabrice COFFRINI AFP / Archives

"The objective is to maintain the entire World Cup calendar in all disciplines," a representative of the FIS told AFP.

"If national regulations become too restrictive for the entry into the country of a majority of participants, the FIS would study these files on a case-by-case basis, with all the stakeholders", which seems to give the green light to Canada.

The two stages in Lake Louise, as well as those in the United States (Killington at the end of November, Beaver Creek at the beginning of December), also mark the return of the North American tour after a year of absence.

These fall health questions echo those linked to the Beijing Games, the great event of winter.

For the moment, a logistical fog surrounds the gathering (transport, accommodation, etc.) and prevents the teams from getting organized, due to a lack of arrival dates, for example.

Shiffrin to the record

Before these Olympics reserved for spectators residing in China, skiers should however find some beautiful atmospheres this winter.

In addition to Sölden, where no maximum gauge has been set but where spectators will have to be vaccinated or tested, Switzerland has announced the return of the fans, especially in the bubbling finish area of ​​Adelboden in early January.

On the sporting side, the French Alexis Pinturault and the Slovakian Petra Vlhova are putting their title on the line, after having won their first big globe in the spring.

The French Alexis Pinturault with his big crystal globe after the giant slalom in Lenzerheide (Switzerland) on March 20, 2021 Fabrice COFFRINI AFP / Archives

Pinturault will face young wolves (the Swiss Marco Odermatt, the Austrian Marco Schwarz), while Vlhova is surrounded by former revenge winners (the American Mikaela Shiffrin, the Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami, the Italian Federica Brignone ).

Shiffrin can continue to get closer to the historic record for World Cup victories: she has 69 at just 26 years old and is only beaten by her compatriot Lindsey Vonn (82) and the Swede Ingemar Stenmark (86).

"It's a big dream to become an overall contender" for the World Cup, which she has won three times (2017, 2018, 2019), the American told reporters.

While remaining cautious: "I do not know if it is a realistic objective for this season or even for later, but I am working to make it possible, to be able to claim to win or to be on the podium in all disciplines".

© 2021 AFP