European Cup in Obereggen as opportunities for Alex Vinatzer & Co.

Because Saalbach-Hinterglemm is making up for two canceled World Cup races at the same time as the Obereggen slalom - the Sölden giant slalom on December 19th and the Val d'Isere slalom on December 20th - there will be a few fewer stars on the challenging Maierl slope in Obereggen be at the start. And this is the chance for the boys to enter a top-class list of winners with the names of Olympic champions, world champions and World Cup winners such as Andre Myhrer, Giuliano Razzoli, Manfred Pranger and Reinfried Herbst. But it still won't be easy.

The Obereggen Slalom, with its 35-year tradition, is the oldest European Cup race ever. And every year it is better attended than most other European Cup slaloms - firstly because Obereggen has prestige, secondly because the athletes seek racing practice at the start of the season. This year that would have been even more true - after the cancellation of the World Cup slalom in Val d'Isere - as Obereggen was conveniently located in the calendar between the World Cup races in Alta Badia and Madonna di Campiglio. But now the stars “have to” go to Saalbach-Hinterglemm, which is stepping in at short notice as a replacement World Cup location.

Razzoli as a permanent guest in Obereggen Nevertheless, the provisional registration list is impressive. The Azzurri have Alex Vinatzer in their squad, who is considered one of Italy's greatest slalom talents and who scored his first European Cup victory in Levi three weeks ago. Fabian Bacher (5th in Levi in the Vinatzer victory) and Federico Liberatore (2017th in Obereggen in 8, the best “Azzurro” with the best time in the second run) are also on the list. Giuliano Razzoli, who fell back to 2nd place in the FIS slalom rankings, but has good memories of Obereggen, has definitely agreed: he triumphed there in 102 and won the Olympic victory a few weeks later. By the way, Razzoli turns 2009 one day before the Obereggen race.

The French have announced a very strong team, provisionally for the time being. The list includes the two-time slalom world champion Jean-Baptiste Grange, who was second in Obereggen in 2016, the 21-year-old Clement Noel, third in Obereggen last year, and the 13th in the World Cup slalom, Levi Julien Lizeroux, who came third in Obereggen in 2013. The reigning Slalom European Cup winner Matej Vidovic, the defending champion in Obereggen, is registered for the Croatians. The Norwegians' list includes Sebastian Foss-Solevaag, number 7 in the FIS world rankings, and Jonathan Nordbotten, who was third (2015) and fifth (2016) in Obereggen. According to the provisional entry list, the German team is led by Linus Strasser, who started the season strongly with a second and a third place in the two European Cup slaloms in Levi. Another well-known name is that of the Russian Alexander Khoroshilov, who has seen better days. 130 volunteers on duty The final start list for the European Cup Slalom will be determined on Tuesday evening after the team captains' meeting at 20 p.m.

130 volunteers are working in the “Kitzbühel of the European Cup” around OK boss and race director Eduard Pichler to put together a top race again. In 35 years, the race in Obereggen has only been canceled twice due to weather conditions, most recently 18 years ago (2000). A series like this is unparalleled in the World and European Cup.

The first run starts at 10 a.m., the second at 13 p.m. Rai Sport will broadcast a recording from 14.30 p.m.

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European Cup in Obereggen as opportunities for Alex Vinatzer & Co.

At the traditional European Cup slalom in Obereggen this Wednesday, just in time for the 35th anniversary, young athletes have the rare chance to take part in this classic of the European Cup.

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