This year, the DOLOMITES Val Gardena Südtirol Ski Trophy will be awarded for the third time at the speed events on the Saslong. The prestigious special prize goes to the racer who collects the most World Cup points during the Val Gardena/Gröden race week.

After Friday's super-G had to be canceled due to inclement weather conditions, Vincent Kriechmayr has the best chance of winning the DOLOMITES Val Gardena Südtirol Ski Trophy. The Austrian goes into Saturday's downhill classic as the winner of the first downhill in this special ranking with a 20-point lead over Switzerland's Marco Odermatt. In addition to Kriechmayr and Odermatt, downhill bronze Matthias Mayer is also running for the special prize.

Val Gardena/Gröden specialist Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who secured this trophy two years ago, put himself in position with fifth place in the first downhill, as did veteran Johan Clarey, who collected plenty of points in fourth place. Last year's winner Bryce Bennett has only an outside chance for first place: In the first race on the Saslong, the American did not place better than 29th place. So he is trailing behind in this particular classification.

Of note - If several athletes are tied in points after the races, the athlete with the better placing in one of the two competitions will prevail. If there is another tie here, the better result in the downhill classic on Saturday will decide in favor of the winner.

Several additional prizes await

The DOLOMITES Val Gardena Südtirol Ski Trophy is a special prize designed to enhance the value of the classics on the Saslong. The winner of the trophy will claim an original 3D wooden bust, extra prize money of Euros 5,000 and a short vacation in Val Gardena/Gröden. In addition - this is new this year - the winner may climb the Sassolungo/Langkofel accompanied by a local expert mountain guide.

The true-to-the-original 3D wooden busts of the winning racers will be on public display and can be viewed by all ski enthusiasts at the "Ski Champions Walk" in Selva/Wolkenstein. All the winners of a World Cup race in Val Gardena/Gröden and the World Champions of 1970 will be honored. The Ski Champions Walk also recalls the commitment of the people of Val Gardena/Gröden, who believed in the idea of skiing in their home valley with vision, ambition and pioneering spirit. The path starts at the walkway of the old railroad road behind the ski school in the village center of Selva/Wolkenstein.

DOLOMITES Val Gardena Südtirol Ski Trophy - Intermediate standings after the first downhill:

1st Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT) 100 points.
2nd Marco Odermatt (SUI) 80
3rd Matthias Mayer (AUT) 60
4th Johan Clarey (SUI) 50
5th Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR) 45

13th Florian Schieder (ITA/Kastelruth) 20
23rd Christof Innerhofer (ITA/Gais) 8
25th Guglielmo Bosca (ITA) 6