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Marcel Hirscher Forced to Miss Sölden Season Opener
October 20, 2025
Illness Ends Hirscher’s Comeback Plans for Sölden
Marcel Hirscher’s long-awaited return to World Cup racing will have to wait. The eight-time overall champion, now representing the Netherlands, has withdrawn from Sunday’s season-opening giant slalom in Sölden, Austria.
The 36-year-old tore his anterior cruciate ligament while training on Austria’s Reiteralm in December 2024. After months of rehabilitation and careful preparation, Hirscher was set to make his comeback—until illness struck. According to Patrick Riml, Red Bull’s Global Head of Athlete Special Projects, Hirscher has been sick for more than two weeks and isn’t in condition to compete. Riml confirmed the news Monday evening during ServusTV’s Sport und Talk aus dem Hangar 7.
Strong Preparation Derailed by Timing
“His rehab went extremely well, and his form was excellent,” Riml said. “But the lack of recent training days made it impossible to race in Sölden.”
Hirscher began skiing again in early September, roughly nine months after his injury. He had been training both indoors and on snow in Zermatt, gradually building back strength and rhythm. The illness, however, interrupted that progress just as the final preparation phase began.
Sölden’s History With Hirscher
The Austrian legend’s connection to Sölden runs deep. Racing for Austria, he captured victory on the Rettenbach Glacier in 2014 and stood on the podium four other times between 2012 and 2016.
Last October, in his much-publicized return to the World Cup circuit under the Dutch flag, Hirscher impressed by qualifying for the second run and finishing 23rd—2.16 seconds behind Norway’s Alexander Steen Olsen. Ironically, Steen Olsen will also be absent from Sunday’s race.
Eyes on the Future
While Hirscher’s absence will disappoint fans hoping for another chapter in his remarkable career, his team remains optimistic. His recovery has been steady, and his performance level during training indicates that his comeback is still on track—just delayed.
With Sölden off the table, Hirscher’s next realistic opportunity to return could come later in the fall as the World Cup tour shifts to North America.
Adapted from skinews.ch reporting
About the Author: Peter Gerber Plech
