Alexis Pinturault: “It scares me a little”

The recovery was very important, said Pinturault in Sölden before the start of the World Cup season. “I really needed to get away from skiing, from the whole situation. Because after two years without a real vacation because you couldn't travel properly the previous year, the vacation was important." The new motivation was quickly found with the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing. “Even though it scares me a little what it will be like in Beijing. Three weeks can be a long time if you’re only allowed to be in your room or on the slopes.”

Winning the big ball for the first time has changed perceptions and expectations a little, explained the 30-year-old, who also finished last season as giant slalom winner. “I still want to be fast and win races. But I've already won the overall World Cup once, so I might see it a little differently now. I can't answer that question as to whether it will be easier to win it again. But I believe that the competition for the ball will be almost the same. You always have to be ready, give your best, race after race and fight for victory.” “It gives me the opportunity to also take part in downhill runs.” Alexis Pinturault on the new division of races The changes in the World Cup calendar with the balanced number of speed and technical races will make some decisions easier for him. “Take Beaver Creek, for example, where we had downhill, super-G and giant slalom. If you wanted to be well prepared for the Super-G, you also had to do the downhill training, but you couldn't neglect the giant slalom preparation. This problem no longer arises, we can concentrate on speed or technology weekends. It gives me the opportunity to also take part in downhill runs.” It's still not 100 percent balanced And Pinturault doesn't see the World Cup as balanced anyway, because unlike the women's race, where there are nine races in each of the four disciplines, the men compete in eleven downhills, seven super-Gs, eight giant slaloms and ten slaloms at 18 venues. “It’s not XNUMX percent fair, it would only be if you had nine races in each discipline. It would also be an interesting thought to perhaps have two results like in biathlon.”

He is open to new things, but one should not lose sight of the fact that the overall World Cup is about versatility. “It's about more than just driving one discipline. That would be a disaster, then the overall World Cup would lose value.” He is also certain that there should be no more races. “All athletes say we have too many races.” The current calendar is also not fully feasible. “If an athlete is at 100 percent in every race, never tired, then that means he is fighting a few rules, I would say.”

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Alexis Pinturault: “It scares me a little”

After winning the overall World Cup and achieving her big goal, ski star Alexis Pinturault needed a long time to find motivation again. At the end of August he was ready to return to skiing. The Frenchman has big plans for both the World Cup and the Olympic Games.

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