Olympics-Alpine skiing-Downhillers ready to rumble on ‘The Rock’

By Simon Evans

YANQING, China (Reuters) – It took 70 years for Norway to win an Olympic gold in males’s downhill however the Scandinavian nation are hoping to change into solely the second to retain the title in Sunday’s opening race on the Beijing Video games.

Aksel Lund Svindal retired after his triumph in Pyeongchang 4 years in the past however compatriot Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, the World Cup downhill chief, is favorite this time round.

Gusty winds on the brand new course, which has been created completely from synthetic snow, have affected coaching and led to Saturday’s third session being cancelled nL8N2UG05E.

These circumstances additionally assist create an open discipline with all the highest skiers in with an opportunity of glory in what needs to be an exciting race on a course dubbed ‘The Rock’.

Kilde was one in all three skiers who accomplished a 3rd run earlier than coaching was cancelled and comes into the race after victories in January’s World Cup classics at Wengen and Kitzbuehel.

“All the things can occur, particularly when you could have climate like this. It’s not that it’s going to be simple. It’s by no means simple to win an Olympic gold medal. All the things is feasible although,” mentioned Kilde.

Whereas his rivals charge him the person to beat, Kilde is way from being the runaway favorite in a discipline full of expertise.

Austria’s Matthias Mayer would enter the document books as the primary male skier to win a gold medal in three straight Olympics after his triumphs in downhill at Sochi in 2014 and super-G 4 years in the past.

Fellow Austrian Vincent Kriechmayr is the reigning world champion in downhill and loved a victory in Wengen final month to spice up his confidence.

Austria have received 18 Olympic medals within the males’s downhill together with seven golds however their previous rivals Switzerland have two racers primed to problem.

The 34-year-old Beat Feuz, who picked up a downhill bronze in 2018 and Marco Odermatt, the 24-year-old general World Cup chief, are each anticipated to push for podium locations.

Dominik Paris, in his fourth Video games, is hoping to change into the primary Italian to win gold in 70 years and comply with within the footsteps of 1952 champion Zeno Colo.

Relating to expertise although, none can match Frenchman Johan Clarey who’s aiming for his first medal on the age of 41 having hit type with a second place at Kitzbuehel final month.

American followers received’t have to attend to see if they’ve an opportunity of glory nevertheless as first out of the hut on Sunday would be the high U.S downhiller Bryce Bennett who received the pre-Christmas World Cup race at Val Gardena.

(Reporting by Simon Evans, Modifying by Ken Ferris)

Supply: KFGO

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