Lech/Zuers program changed

On Wednesday, the FIS announced an updated program for the World Cup parallel events in Lech/Zuers, pushing the event back two weeks.

A statement from the FIS reads as follows:

This is to inform you that after careful consideration with all stakeholders, due to lack of snow and high temperatures, it was decided that the Audi FIS Ski World Cup in Lech/Zuers (AUT) scheduled on 13th – 14th November 2020 will be moved to 26th – 27th November 2020.

The next snow control will be on 18th November 2020.

The new program is scheduled as follows:
Nov. 26: women’s qualification & Women’s Parallel
Nov. 27: men’s qualification & men’s parallel

While the announcement cites lack of snow for the change in schedule, it’s also worth noting the nation of Austria went under lockdown this week amid a spike in COVID-19 infections. While the current lockdown in Austria appears to provide an exemption for professional sporting events, the shift in the calendar may also being taking coronavirus conditions into consideration.

The postponement of the races means two slaloms in Levi on Nov. 21-22 will be the next races on the women’s calendar. Double Olympic champion and three-time overall World Cup winner Mikaela Shiffrin is planning her comeback at those events in Finnish Lapland.

Shiffrin, who hasn’t raced since Jan. 26, skipped the Oct. 17 season-opener in Soelden after hurting her back.

The men have no races scheduled ahead of the Lech/Zuers event.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.