Bryce Bennett is a hot ace for a win in Val Gardena. © TEYSSOT / Pierre Teyssot

As open as rarely: Who will triumph in Val Gardena?

Will there be a completely new winner at the 57th edition of the Saslong Classic? It's quite possible - because in this year's field of participants there are only three runners who have already climbed to the top step of the podium in Val Gardena.

19 December 2024

From: sn

In the absence of the injured Saslong dominator Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, it is more difficult than ever to identify a top favorite for the races at the foot of the Sasso Lungo. There are a number of contenders for victory - but no one really stands out from the list of top riders.

The three speed aces who know what it feels like to win in Val Gardena are Dominik Paris, Bryce Bennett and Vincent Kriechmayr. While Paris rocked the finish area last year with his first home win since 2008, Bennett has already triumphed on his favorite course twice (2021 and 2023). Vincent Kriechmayr was unbeatable on the Saslong three times - in addition to a downhill victory (2022), the Austrian can boast two successes in the Super-G (2019 and 2022), making him the only active rider in the field to have already won a Super-G here.

First win for Casse or Crawford?

It is clear that Paris, Bennett and Kriechmayr can all be expected to win again. However, the field seems more balanced than ever this year, with the world's top athletes even closer together. If you ask the bookmakers, the most common tip is Marco Odermatt. The reigning downhill World Cup winner has already made it onto the podium three times in Val Gardena and was also very strong in the first training session, coming second.

James Crawford is one of the favorites. © APA/AFP / KERSTIN JOENSSON

Speaking of training: The two fastest in training, Mattia Casse (third in the downhill in 2022) and James Crawford (fifth in the downhill three times in a row), must also be kept in mind for the weekend. For Casse and Crawford, the 2023 Super-G World Champion, it would not only be their first triumph on the Saslong, but their first World Cup victory ever.

The French speed aces Cyprien Sarrazin and Nils Allegre, as well as the Val Gardena specialists from the US team, must also be reckoned with. In addition, there are many dangerous outsiders who only leave the start house towards the end of the race: the Saslong is one of the few World Cup slopes that allows even high-numbered runners to achieve a fast time. It would not be the first time that a surprise winner has made headlines in Val Gardena...