After an eventful week of racing, it is time for Rainer Senoner, President of the Organizing Committee Val Gardena/Gröden, to take stock. Even though the downhill classic had to be cancelled, Senoner wanted to thank all team members and has already set his sights on the next edition of the Saslong classics in 2020.

"The 800 team members on the sidelines of the World Cup have really done an excellent job and we extend our personal gratitude to each and every one of them. We would also like to thank the many course workers who worked around the clock sparing no effort. They made the best out of a deteriorating situation and were working non-stop - even if the weather was not cooperating with us in the end", says Senoner.

All decisions made by the Organizing Committee together with the race jury during the week were "appropriate and important", he said. "I think that we - also on behalf of the athletes - have always acted responsibly. From the cancellation of the first training run to the execution of the super-G, we always proceeded and decided with care. The cancellation of the downhill race was ultimately unavoidable because the safety and protection of the athletes was not guaranteed due to the external conditions", explained the head of the OC team.

Now the focus of the Val Gardena/Gröden organizers is already directed towards the year 2020. "From now on, we will start with the preparations for next year's competitions. I am sure that we will then be able to provide a great race week again", Senoner concluded.