Skating icons criticize the World Cup calendar: “It is harmful to the sport!”

The weather has already changed the Ski World Cup calendar several times this season.

Seven of the nine men’s races planned so far have had to be cancelled. Often organizers were powerless to combat the weather.

However, the FIS is not at all helpless when it comes to setting the World Cup calendar. And this is exactly where some unfortunate decisions have been made in the past – at least according to some skating stars.

More precisely, it is about the double scheduling of a major at the same World Cup location – for example in Kitzbühel, where two events are scheduled to be held in January.

There would have already been two tours on the program in Zermatt and Beaver Creek, but instead Val Gardena – and perhaps Wengen as well – will now be expanded to include one tour. Immediately after the fast weekend in Val Gardena, two giant slalom races will also be held in Alta Badia.

Neureuther: “We have to place more value on exclusivity”

“Such classic downhill double races are harmful to our sport,” says Felix Neureuther in Blick, angrily at the developments in recent years.

“The World Cup is a huge event, not least because it only takes place every four years,” says Neureuther. “On the other hand, a biathlon World Cup medal has less value because there is a biathlon World Cup every year. This is why we should give value to the Alps.” Greater for exclusivity.”

Fuse: “Victory in the Classic must remain something special”

The German also receives support from Beat Feuz. The former speed specialist once won two downhill races in Kitzbühel in one weekend, but believes it was a wrong decision to push for doubles on the World Cup calendar.

“Winning a Classic should still be very special. But if two downhill rounds are scheduled every year in Wengen and Kitzbühel, then in ten years we will have so many winners in the Lauberhorn and Streif that these titles are no longer out of the ordinary,” said Feuse.

Knauss shows incomprehension

ORF expert Hans Knaus also has little to gain from the double designations: “I have absolutely no understanding of the fact that two giants were placed on this selective historical slope from the beginning.”

Styria uses the giant slalom race at Alta Badia as an example: “Alta Badia, together with Adelboden, represents the biggest classic race for giant slalom specialists. Here there should only be one winner a year. In Formula 1, it only happens once a year in Monaco. “

In addition to the already mentioned Classics, this men’s World Cup season also includes dual events in Chamonix (2x downhill), Garmisch-Partenkirchen (2x super-G), and Aspen (2x giant slalom).

The 1970s by Franz Klem! Pictures of the legendary race