The World Cup gets underway: the favorites and the chances of Federica Brignone and Sofia Goggia

World Cup starts: the favorites and the chances of Federica Brignone and Sofia Goggia

Tomorrow on the Rettenbach Glacier in Soelden, the 59th edition of the Alpine Ski World Cup begins with the women’s giant slalom. The compulsory favorites are among men the Swiss Marco Odermatt and among women the American Mikaela Shiffrin.

Odermatt dominator of the last three seasons, è theoretically without opponents: Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde must again undergo surgery on his left shoulder, which was hit by an infection in the summer, and will miss the entire season. Frenchman Alexis Pinturault, who like Kilde was injured last January in Wengen, will miss Sunday’s giant slalom on the Tyrol glacier and will need to check his condition later in the season. And he is also struggling to return to his best, as is Austrian Marco Schwarz, another major casualty of last season.

Watch out però for two big comebacks: that of Norwegian Lucas Braathen, who after a sabbatical year will compete in the colors of Brazil, his mom’s country, but above all that of Austrian Marcel Hirscher, who retired five years ago after winning eight consecutive General World Cups, who will defend the colors of Holland, again his mom’s country. There is no certainty yet that he will be present at the starting gate in Soelden, but if the Salzburg star were to be immediately competitive despite his no longer youthful age, 35, there would be a more than credible opponent for Odermatti.

Among women, a great duel between Shiffrin and Switzerland’s Lara Gut is on the horizon. The champion from Colorado without the injury in Cortina d’Ampezzo would have brought home the sixth crystal ball overall, equaling the legendary Austrian Annemarie Proell, and she had to leave it to the Ticino outfielder. Also in the women’s field hovers the specter of a big comeback, which would be even more sensational than Hirscher’s, that of 40-year-old American Lindsey Vonn, four World Cups in her trophy cabinet, who also retired five years ago with a destroyed knee that last spring è was put back together.

And Italy? As always, the best cards for the Italian team will be in the women’s field: Federia Brignone, a 2020 triumphant racer, will try to insert herself in the duel between Shiffrin and Gut for the overall Cup, but also watch out for Marta Bassino and the returning Elena Curtoni. As for Sofia Goggia, the Bergamasque star should return to competition in mid-December in the fast races in North America, hoping to be immediately competitive after last winter’s nasty shin injury. Among the men, Dominik Paris will as always have his way in the fast races, especially in the downhill, while in the technical ones Alex Vinatzer, who has grown a lot in the giant slalom, will have to demonstrate moreconcreteness especially in the slalom.