Holding: Mathieu Faivre

Two years ago, Mathieu Faivre won two gold medals in Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the individual parallel and in the giant.

But that the slopes of the Dolomites seem far away for the Niçois...

The 31-year-old skier is going through a dark season in the World Cup, which is explained in particular by a change of equipment last summer.

His best result of the winter is 17th place, among the six giants disputed.

"My situation is not ideal, I find it difficult to take pleasure in competition and in training because I find it difficult to dominate what I do", he explained before the start. second week of testing.

"With my season, I don't feel like a favorite anyway."

The Frenchman: Alexis Pinturault

With Faivre's poor form, French hopes rest - once again - on Alexis Pinturault.

Brilliant during the first week (gold in the combined, bronze in the super-G), the leader of the French team has already succeeded in his Worlds in Courchevel.

Frenchman Mathieu Faivre during the first round of the Alpine Skiing World Cup giant slalom, in Alta Badia (Italy), December 18, 2022 © Tiziana FABI / AFP/Archives

What to conclude while relaxing the competition.

On Wednesday, "Pintu" was eliminated in the round of 16 of the individual parallel, which he only disputed, however, to "not arrive with a floured face on the giant".

"The goal was to regain the sensations of the race, to take small marks on this snow which is changing", he explained after his elimination, as the temperatures rise in the Savoyard resort.

Bronze medalist in this event in Vail/Beaver Creek (United States) in 2015 then in Are (Sweden) in 2019, the skier from Courchevel can aim better, even if he did not reach the podium in the discipline in the World Cup this winter.

Favorite: Marco Odermatt

Finally crowned, what's more in the queen event of the downhill, Marco Odermatt now has the crown of king befitting his status as world No. 1.

Olympic champion in the discipline last year in Beijing, and winner of four of the six giants contested this winter, the Swiss is the huge favorite of the event.

"When you win once, you want to win a second time... so it's not over", he warned, mischievously, after last week's descent, the "race of (s)a life".

The number: 3

Like the number of giant second places won by the volcanic Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen this winter, once behind his compatriot Lucas Braathen, and twice behind Odermatt.

Super-G bronze medalist, Frenchman Alexis Pinturault, during the Super-G awards ceremony at the Alpine Skiing World Championships, in Méribel, February 9, 2023 © Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP

"Kristo", giant's 2019 world champion, is among the favorites for the podium.

Braathen, he remains uncertain, after having been operated on for appendicitis just before the Worlds.

© 2023 AFP