The weather is perfect, and the slope is ready: In Val Gardena/Gröden, everything is set for the downhill classic on Saturday, the crowning finale of the 56th Saslong Classic.

Frenchman Nils Allegre will open the downhill at 11:45 am, with Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, bib number 6, leading the top group. In Friday's super-G, the 31-year-old Norwegian finished 37th; now, he seeks revenge and chases his sixth triumph at the foot of the Sassolungo/Langkofel in the supreme discipline.

Following Kilde, local hero Florian Schieder (no. 7) leaves the starting gate. Vincent Kriechmayr follows directly with number 8. Last year, the Austrian proved impressively that the newly crowned super-G winner in Val Gardena/Gröden could also be fast in the downhill: Back then, he left the entire competition behind him on a shortened course.

Marco Odermatt, sporting bib 9, will try to secure victory on Saturday. After coming within a hair's breadth of his first Val Gardena/Gröden win twice, his triumph is eagerly anticipated. Last year's third-placed Mattia Casse (number 10) consistently delivers top results and has much to live up to. The third "Azzurro" in the top group is Dominik Paris, who will plunge down the valley with number 12. Bryce Bennett, the winner of Thursday's downhill, will follow the top group with number 18.

His run will show the worth of the top skiers' times. Another local hero in the top 30 of the downhill scene is Christof Innerhofer, the 24th athlete to take to the slopes on Saturday.

A total of 62 athletes from 14 nations will tackle the downhill classic. The complete start list for the race can be found here.

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