1. Training Zermatt/Cervinia – Only Striedinger and Alliod faster than the man behind – Sport

Niels Hintermann sets a top time in the first training session of the new downhill run in Zermatt/Cervinia.

Of course, training times should be enjoyed with caution. For example, with Henrik von Appen (CHI), Elian Lehto (FIN) and the surprising Italian Benjamin Jacques Alliod in second place, three outsiders with start numbers beyond 40 made it into the top 6 in the first training session on the “Gran Becca” in Zermatt /Cervinia.

Nevertheless, it can be assumed that Niels Hintermann’s route is on the Matterhorn. The man from Zurich finished the first test drive in 3rd place. The fastest was the Austrian Otmar Striedinger, who was 37 hundredths behind him. Florian Schieder (ITA) in 4th place already lost 0.85 s.

Only 50 valid times

For many athletes, however, the first training run at the foot of the Matterhorn had a flaw: 32 of the 82 riders at the start – including Striedinger and Alliod – missed at least one gate. So at the end of the day, Hintermann was the “real” number 1.

“It’s a very ‘casual’ route,” said the Swiss afterwards, “it’s a little faster than I thought when I visited it. This means you have to work constantly. But the condition is phenomenal.”

Odermatt and Kilde are not yet among the fastest

With Stefan Rogentin in 8th place, another Swiss made it into the top 10 (+1.19). Marco Odermatt lost 1.61 seconds and came 16th, just ahead of Alexis Monney (19th). Aleksander Kilde (NOR), last season’s speed dominator, also took it easy and finished 25th, more than 2 seconds behind Ralph Weber.

Two more training sessions are planned for Thursday and Friday before things get serious on Saturday and Sunday. The two departures are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. (live on SRF Zwei and in the SRF Sport app).