Records, victories, disappointments: 7 ski predictions

Looking into a crystal ball to know what the coming World Cup winter has in store would be too easy. It's much more interesting to look ahead and explore all the alternatives yourself. SportNews did this and made seven predictions: some realistic, others a little less so.

1. Shiffrin breaks the Vonn record Lindsey Vonn has been at the top of the World Cup 82 times. The grand dame of skiing set a women's record that seemed destined to last forever. Just a few years after Vonn's retirement, this mark could be broken: Mikaela Shiffrin currently has 69 wins and is therefore within reach, considering that the American won 2019 in the 20/17 season alone. Shiffrin, who is only 26 years old, was able to train to her usual extent again after her father's death, so she is the woman to beat and will overtake Vonn this season.

The reigning Olympic downhill champion: Sofia Goggia. © APA/afp / JAVIER SORIANO

2. Goggia creates the gold double Last year, Sofia Goggia was the tragic heroine at the home World Championships in Cortina. In the upcoming season, Sofia Goggia is taking revenge in her own personal way, crowning herself double Olympic champion at the Olympic Games in Beijing and thus defending her downhill title. Why are we so confident? It's simple: Last year, the 28-year-old was in a league of her own in the downhill race; in the Super-G she was only ahead of Lara Gut-Behrami. In China everything comes down to this duel again. However, the Swiss is still missing the gold medal at the Olympics, which is why she will start with greater pressure and will not be able to intercept Goggia.

3. Vlhova has to take a back seat Like Shiffrin, last year's overall World Cup winner is a special phenomenon, a talent of the century and can compete for victory in any discipline. But: In the slalom, the competition alongside Shiffrin has become greater with the rapid rise of Katharina Liensberger and Michelle Gisin. Not to mention the giant slalom, where other athletes are rated higher than the Slovakian. Can the 26-year-old still have a say in the fight for the big ball? For sure. However, Vlhova has to forego non-stop victories like last year.

Petra Vlhova wants to build on her successes from last year. © Pentaphoto

4. Nicol Delago celebrates his first victory Nicol Delago is just one of many up-and-coming speed talents in Italy. Having been out of action last year due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, the 25-year-old is now in top shape again and, in our opinion, ready for her first World Cup success. Especially in Lake Louise and Altenmarkt-Zauchensee you have to take the Val Gardena woman into account. Not just because she has already been on the podium on both routes. On the Canadian descent, Delago can show off her gliding qualities like no other, but she knows the one in Zauchensee like the back of her hand. South Tyrolean fans who have longed for success with the women will be relieved this year.

5. Croatian teen rides into the spotlight Zrinka Ljutic? Who? Don't be surprised if you don't know this name yet. However, it won't be much time before this changes. The Croatian is seen as a new star in the ski sky and will already make a lasting impression in the World Cup this year. Ljutic won her first European Cup last year with 16 (!) in the slalom, and a week later she doubled in the giant slalom. She also competed in the premier ski class - but without qualifying for the second round. That will change next winter. Ljutic, who has already been given the catchy nickname “Janica”, is consistently in the top 15.

6. Pichler buys his Olympic ticket Despite a long history of injuries, she is back - and stronger than ever: This refers to Karoline Pichler, who not only returned to the European Cup podium in the previous season, after five years marked by bad luck, but also to the World Cup team. That's not all: Pichler gets the ticket to Beijing in the giant slalom - behind the three luminaries Goggia, Marta Bassino and Federica Brignone. It may sound optimistic when you analyze the domestic competition, but you realize that this is by no means made out of thin air.

7. Switzerland bakes smaller rolls Last year, the Swiss ski women took the butter off Azzurre's bread in the Nations Cup. The same will not happen again in the coming winter. Why? It's simple: Wendy Holdener was injured shortly before the start of the season and will not be fit in time for the start of the season - just like downhill ace Corinne Suter. In addition, Michelle Gisin was set back by Pfeiffer's glandular fever in the summer, which is why she is behind in training. This means that the preparation for three out of four Swiss spearheads did not go smoothly. Gut-Behrami alone is not enough to keep the Azzurre at bay.

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Records, victories, disappointments: 7 ski predictions

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Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

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Records, victories, disappointments: 7 ski predictions

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