French and Swiss teams announce their starters for Soelden
The Soelden World Cup got the official green light from FIS on Oct. 14, so it’s officially off to the races for World Cup athletes.
“The slope preparation is already so perfect, that we could race this weekend!” said FIS Race Director Markus Mayr. “It’s better than it has been in the past 10 years.”
The Swiss team has chosen its starters for the World Cup opener. The seven Swiss women, who are an average age of 21 years old, are led by overall World Cup winner Lara Gut. She will be joined by alpine combined World Cup globe winner Wendy Holdener, Simone Wild, Junior World Champion Jasmina Suter, Melanie Meillard, Rahel Kopp and Aline Danioth.
On the men’s side, World Cup veterans Carlo Janka, Justin Murisier, and Gino Caviezel will be joined by young guns, Loic Meillard, Sandro Jenal, Pierre Bugnard, Junior World Champion Marco Odermatt and Elia Zurbriggen.
Next, say “bonjour” to the French team. Nine women will push out of the start gate including Tessa Worley, who has raced this event since 2007 with a top result of fourth place. She will be accompanied by Taina Barioz, Anne-Sophie Barthet, Adeline Baud-Mugnier, Coralie Frasse-Sombet, Estelle Alphand, Clara Direz, Josephine Forni, and Marie Massios.
On Sunday, the men will push out of the start gate, and two Frenchmen have proved they can make it on the podium at this event. Thomas Fanara landed a second place finish last year, and Alexis Pinturault skied onto the podium in 2011, 2013 and 2014. They will be joined by teammates Mathieu Faivre, Steve Missilier, Victor Muffat-Jeandet.
About the Author: Gabbi Hall
