The Norwegian Kajsa Vickhoff Lie opens Sunday's downhill on the Gran Becca!
Tomorrow, Sunday, from 11.45 a.m., the world's best downhill skiers will make another attempt to celebrate their premiere on the new Gran Becca World Cup course as part of the Matterhorn Cervino Speed Opening.
Nothing has changed in terms of the sporting starting position: Current downhill World Cup winner Sofia Goggia will be the focus of attention in what will hopefully be the first downhill of the winter and is the athlete to beat. The Italian will start the race with the number 13.
Goggia's first challengers are likely to include the strong Swiss skiers around Corinne Suter (bib number 15) and Lara Gut-Behrami (12). World champion Jasmine Flury (14) also wants to build up momentum for the winter right at the start of the season.
But the list of favourites does not end there. The Slovenian Ilka Stuhec (9) is just as good for a top place as the Austrians Cornelia Hütter (3), Nina Ortlieb (8), Mirjam Puchner (7) or Stephanie Venier (22). It will also be interesting to see how the German Kira Weidle (10) and the Czech Ester Ledecka (6) perform.
In addition to Goggia, Italy will be sending Elena Curtoni (11) and Aostan local hero Federica Brignone (16) into the race, who will be looking to show off in front of her home crowd after her second place in Sölden.
The Gran Becca is a completely new course in the ski circuit - another factor that is added in a sport as unpredictable as alpine skiing. The protagonists are ready!
A big surprise cannot be ruled out, especially on a course with little experience. The women's World Cup downhill will be broadcast live on Sunday by numerous European television stations, including SRF, ORF, Rai and Eurosport.