Italy, Germany, Norway and Canada reveal their Soelden lineups
Past Soelden World Cup winners will race alongside World Cup novices this weekend. Italy, Germany, Norway and Canada have announced their lineups for the 2016-17 World Cup opener.
The always dangerous Italian women are led by last season’s Soelden champion Federica Brignone and will be joined by Marta Bassino, Elena Curtoni, Irene Curtoni, Nadia Fanchini, Francesca Marsaglia, Sofia Goggia, Manuela Moelgg, and Laura Pirovano, who will be making her World Cup debut.
The Italian men features one veteran World Cup athlete making his Soelden debut. Dominik Paris, who was in the hunt for the downhill globe last season, will join Andrea Ballerin, Luca De Aliprandini, Eisath Florian, Simon Maurberger, Manfred Moelgg, Roberto Nani, Riccardo Tonetti and Tommaso Sala, who is also making his Soelden debut. Moelgg podiumed on this hill back in 2012.
The Germans are fielding a small, but powerful team. On the women’s side, Lena Durr and Katrin Hirtl-Stanggassinger. Noticeably missing is Viktoria Rebensburg, who recently injured herself, but hopes to be back in the next few weeks. The German team has twice as many men racing including Fritz Dopfer, Stefan Luitz, Felix Neureuther, Dominik Schwaiger, Benedikt Staubitzer, and Linus Strasser.
Like Germany, Norway has a mighty lineup. Ragnhild Mowinckel, who recently fractured her hand, will race in a cast this Saturday. She will be joined by teammates Nina Loeseth and Maren Skjoeld.
Norway is fielding a large men’s team for Sunday featuring Leif Kristian Haugen, Kjetil Jansrud, World Cup slalom globe winner Henrik Kristoffersen, World Cup super-G globe winner Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, Rasmus Windingstad, Bjørnar Neteland, Axel William Patricksson and Marcus Monsen. Peder Dahlum Eide and Patrick Haugen Veisten will join them, making their World Cup debut.
The U.S. Ski Team’s northern neighbors have announced their team. The Canadian women will be led by veteran Marie-Michele Gagnon. Candace Crawford, Valerie Grenier and Mikaela Tommy will push out of the start with her on Saturday. On the men’s side, Phil Brown, Trevor Philp and Dustin Cook, who is returning from a knee injury, will represent Canada on Sunday.