Alpine skiing: in Courchevel, Michaela Schiffrin goes looking for points

After Italy’s Sofia Giugia rally at Val d’Isere this weekend, all eyes are on Courchevel, where American rival Michaela Schiffrin and many others are expected to take part in two giant races on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was also announced among the favorites for the Emile-Allais circuit: Italy’s Federica Brignone and Marta Bassino, France’s Tessa Worley or Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova.

So, two rounds have passed, since the canceled women’s giant Courchevel at the end of November took place in Killington (USA) due to bad weather. A godsend for the ultra-high-end resort of Savoyard which, together with Méribel, will also host the Alpine Ski World Cup Finals from 14-20 March, one year before the World Championships finals in 2023.

Shiffrin must collect points

Shiffrin, who this weekend pleased Jogia at the top of the World Cup general classification (a small 75-point lead at this point) thanks to his duo on the slopes and a super G at Val d’Isere, will be at the heart of a rebuild. The triple winner of the big crystal ball game (from 2017 to 2019) had just hooked up three top-tier Super Gs (sixth at Lake Louise, and third twice at St. Moritz in mid-December) in eight days.

However, she failed to make the podium at Val d’Isere, finishing fifth in 75 points behind Jogia, a gap she blamed on her.lack of experienceOn this path.I was hoping to get some pointsI confessed.

I expected Felhova Worli, Gut Bahrami was absent

Petra Velhova, absent from Val d’Isere, for her part came third in the general classification. It is also expected that the Frenchwoman, Tessa Worley, will be very excited after her start to the season.”DisappointedMoritz (she had exited at the top of the road, editor’s note).

For its part, Swiss Lara Gut Bahrami was forced to withdraw from both Val d’Isere and Courchevel after testing positive for Covid-19, which could cost her dearly in terms of points during the season. Same punishment for New Zealander Alice Robinson: “Unfortunately, I tested positive for Covid-19 last week in Italy and have been in isolation ever since“, she announced on her Instagram account, declaring herself”very disappointedTo miss the four French stages.

Women’s World Cup Courchevel program:

• Tuesday December 21: Giant Slalom, Round 1 at 10am, Round 2 at 1pm.

• Wednesday December 22: Giant Slalom, Round 1 at 10am, Round 2 at 1pm.