Downhill training canceled at World Cup finals to protect slope before speed races
A view of the strip of snow for the slope which will be used for Friday's alpine ski, men's and women's, World Cup super G races, in Saalbach, Austria, Thursday, March 21, 2024. Credit: AP/Alessandro Trovati
SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria — The men’s and women’s downhill trainings at the World Cup finals were canceled on Thursday.
The sessions on Wednesday went ahead as scheduled but it was decided to cancel Thursday’s trainings in order to protect the slope before the speed races, with elevated temperatures and more rain predicted.
There are two super-Gs on Friday and the women’s downhill on Saturday, followed by the men’s downhill on Sunday which brings the season to a close.
Lara Gut-Behrami, who has already secured the women’s overall and giant slalom titles, has a 69-point lead in the super-G standings.
The Swiss standout also leads the downhill, with a 19-point advantage over Sofia Goggia — who was ruled out of the rest of the season in February — and is 68 ahead of Stephanie Venier.
Compatriot Marco Odermatt locked up his third straight overall championship and the giant slalom title weeks ago.
He leads by 81 points in the super-G standings and 42 in downhill.
A view of the finish area of the slope which will be used for Friday's alpine ski, men's and women's, World Cup super G races, in Saalbach, Austria, Thursday, March 21, 2024. Credit: AP/Alessandro Trovati
