European Cup winners earn starting rights in 2016-17 World Cup

By Published On: March 31st, 2016Comments Off on European Cup winners earn starting rights in 2016-17 World Cup

The 2015-16 winter was unusually challenging for the alpine European Cup because of the weather. In total, 29 out of the 70 Europa Cup races had to be rescheduled and/or replaced. But thanks to the flexibility and the seamless cooperation of the organizers and teams, the tour was a success.

Some athletes were particularly strong this season and managed to earn top spots and grab their personal qualification for the Audi FIS Ski World Cup 2016-17.

On the women’s side, Norwegian Maren Skjoeld clearly dominated the European Cup season and claimed the overall standings 218 points ahead of her contenders. She crossed the finish line in all 27 races she participated in, earned three wins, six podiums, 13 top-10 finishes and grabbed the slalom and alpine combined Europa Cup titles. The 22-year-old Skjoeld also made her World Cup debut and claimed solid 17th, 18th and 24th-place finishes.

The top-three spots in each discipline are very sought after, but no one made it on the podium in more than one discipline. It’s a very young downhill podium: Kira Weidle (GER, 1996), Beatrice Scalvedi (SUI, 1995), Sabrina Maier (AUT, 1994) and an exclusively Italian super G podium: Verena Gasslitter (ITA, 1996), Lisa Magdalena Agerer (ITA, 1991), Anna Hofer (ITA, 1988). In alpine combined, after only 2 races, Maren Skjoeld (NOR, 1993), Rahel Kopp (SUI, 1994), and Lara Zuercher (SUI, 1995) compose the Cup podium.

In the tech disciplines, Stephanie Brunner (AUT, 1994), Simone Wild (SUI, 1993) and Coralie Frasse Sombet (FRA, 1991) are the winners of the GS Cup and Maren Skjoeld (NOR, 1993), Katharina Gallhuber (AUT, 1997) and Elisabeth Willibald (GER, 1996) took the podium spots in slalom.

SCHLADMING,AUSTRIA,15.JAN.16 - ALPINE SKIING -  FIS European Cup, Reiteralm, Super G, men. Image shows Bjoernar Neteland (NOR). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Harald Steiner

For the men, the European Cup overall also goes to a Norwegian. Bjoernar Neteland claimed the win, only two points ahead of Austria’s Christian Walder. Thanks to his two wins (SG in Radstadt-Reiteralm and combined in Soelden) and his constant performances in both tech and in speed, the 25-year-old Neteland gets a personal World Cup qualification for next season in all disciplines. He also earned a second-place finish in both the super G and combined standings.

Second in the overall standings, Walder (AUT, 1991), is qualified for both speed disciplines thanks to his first place in downhill and third place in super G. Young Italian Emanuele Buzzi finished third in the overall and qualified for the downhill and super G by claiming second and third in the respective Cup standings. Only two other athletes could get into a discipline top 3 in speed: Frederic Berthold (AUT, 1991) ended third in downhill and Pangrazzi Apolo (ITA, 1988) took the win in combined.

In the tech disciplines, six different athletes grabbed personal qualifications in the respective disciplines for next season’s World Cup races. After nine races in giant slalom, the winning top three are Stefan Brennsteiner (AUT, 1991), Axel William Patricksson (NOR, 1992) and Loïc Meillard (SUI, 1996). In slalom, the 10 races of this season resulted in the following winners: Robin Buffet (FRA, 1991), Ramon Zenhäusern (SUI, 1992) and Marc Gini (SUI, 1984).

Fans can look forward to some new faces on the World Cup circuit in the 2016-17 season courtesy of this past winter’s European Cup tour.

Release courtesy of FIS

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