When the sovereign Marcel Hirscher thanked him for eight straight total victories, the World Cup suddenly became an open field of play. The candidates tighten the muscles and offer a drama that is most likely to get a late decision.
Just look at the total position below. Trion Pinturault, Aamodt Kilde and Kristoffersen are all within four (!) Points. Paris "ropes" in fourth place, 21 points behind the top trio.
- Hirscher created magic on the skis but at the same time he killed all the excitement when it came to the total cup. This winter, there are sparks about the title fight. I really like the new "agenda" in the World Cup, says SVT Sports expert Tobias Hellman.
"My winner"Since there is no championship winter, of course the fight for the overall cup gets even hotter.
The table Alexis Pinturault emphatically showed the importance of the cup when he half-injured came to Bormio and managed to drive home the victory in the alpine combination.
The Frenchman had hardly done this with Hirscher in the match during an Olympic or World Cup season.
The combination was on its way out of the World Cup program, but was taken for granted. With the points race in progress, the combined races in Wengen and Hinterstoder can actually be decisive for the end of the cup, Hellman believes.
- Should Pinturault be injury-free, he is my winner. He is the most complete of the challengers.
The first big slalom race in Adelboden starts at 10.30 on SVT1.