World Cup finals downhill preview

The season’s top-ranked women and men have been invited to race in the downhill World Cup finals downhill tomorrow in Soldeu, Andorra. Additionally, the Junior World Champions from each discipline are qualified to race in their event.

Two to the season’s best twenty-five women will not race in the downhill. Mikaela Shiffrin, known for strategically managing her schedule, arrived in Andorra with the overall, giant slalom and slalom titles and will not race downhill. Also, Austrian Tamara Tippler is pregnant. However, Switzerland’s Junior World Champion Stefanie Grob will race her first World Cup downhill.

On the men’s side, Swiss racer Beat Feuz and Austrian Matthias Mayer retired mid-season. Additionally, France’s Cyprien Sarrazin has yet to start since his crash on February 7th. However, when you include the Junior World Champion, Slovenia’s Rok Aznoh, and 500-point holders Austrian Marco Schwarz, and French athlete Alexis Pinturault there will be 25 starters in tomorrow’s race.

The weather is cooperating, and after a night of rain the temperatures are dropping. However, wind could be an issue.

Italy’s Sofia Goggia will race having earned the season’s downhill title and on the men’s side, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde has done the same.

Seven North Americans will race in tomorrow’s World Cup finals downhill.

Stifel US Alpine Team women racing the Wednesday, March 15th downhill World Cup finals

• Bib 19, Breezy Johnson, USST, Rowmark Ski Academy, Atomic
• Bib 22, Bella Wright, USST, Snowbird Sports Education Foundation, Atomic

 

Stifel US Alpine Team and Alpine Canada Alpin men racing the Wednesday, March 15th downhill World Cup finals

• Bib 5, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, USST, Mt Mansfield Ski Club, Cochran’s Ski Club, HEAD, SWIX, ASP
• Bib 11, James Crawford, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, HEAD
• Bib 10, Travis Ganong, USST, Team Palisades Tahoe, Atomic
• Bib 19, Jared Goldberg, USST, Snowbird Sports Educational Foundation, Rossignol, LOOK
• Bib 21, Cameron Alexander, ACA, Whistler Mountain Ski Club, Rossignol, LOOK

The men’s race will begin at 5:00 am Eastern Time and 2:00 am on the West Coast. The women’s race will start at 6:30 Eastern and at 3:30 am on the West Coast. A live and full replay with English-speaking announcers on Ski and Snowboard Live is available. Only the women’s race will be simulcast on Peacock and re-aired on CNBC an hour later.

In Canada, CBC sports offers Alpine World Championship racing content.

Men’s and women’s start lists and programs

Men’s start list and program for Wednesday, March 15th Soldeu downhill

Men’s program for Wednesday, March 15th Soldeu downhill

Women’s start list and program for Wednesday, March 15th Soldeu downhill

Women’s program for Wednesday, March 15th Soldeu downhill