The Italian national speed team trained on Wednesday and Thursday on the downhill course in Val Gardena/Gröden. The "Azzurri" found optimal conditions, as confirmed by Peter Fill.

Exactly one week before the first official trainings, Emanuele Buzzi, Mattia Casse, Davide Cazzaniga, Peter Fill, Christof Innerhofer and Dominik Paris familiarized themselves with the legendary South Tyrolean downhill track. "We ran in the upper part and were able to fit in three to four laps. We were there very early in the morning because the track opened up for recreational skiers afterwards. That's why it was very dark and difficult," says Peter Fill.

The 37-year-old from nearby Castelrotto/Kastelruth, who won the Downhill World Cup twice in his career, describes the Saslong 2019 as follows: "It bumps a little, but it's all pretty compact. From that point of view, the track is in great condition. We've also tested the new variant, which swerves a little to the left just above Sochers. It was great for us to be there to give it a first look”.

The fact that Fill has already been able to train with his national team colleagues on the Saslong is not taken for granted by two-time World Championship medal winner. "A huge thank you to the organizing committee for giving us the opportunity to train. It is not so easy to get a course on which you can train at all. And if you can also train on the very track of the next races, then that's certainly perfect. It was important so that we could test the material and prepare ourselves for the Saslong in general," concludes Peter Fill.

The World Cup week in Val Gardena/Gröden starts with the two official trainings next Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, 20 December it’s time for the super-G starting at 11:45 am, on Saturday, 21 December all eyes are on the legendary downhill also starting at 11:45 am.