The athlete who scores the most World Cup points during the race week in Val Gardena/Gröden will be awarded the Val Gardena Südtirol Ski Trophy again this year. At this stage ahead of Saturday's downhill classic, chances look good for an Italian to win this special trophy for the first time.

After one of two races, super-G winner Mattia Casse is in the lead with 100 points. Since the Italian, who has already impressed in the training runs with first and second places, is also one of the top favorites in the downhill, it will be very difficult for the competition to catch up with him.

Jared Goldberg is in second place, 20 points behind Casse. The American is also considered a contender on Saturday – as a proven Val Gardena/Gröden specialist with three top ten results, Goldberg knows exactly which line on the Saslong is particularly fast. The same applies to the Swiss Marco Odermatt, who, in third place and 40 points behind, still has a chance of winning in this special ranking.

Local favorite Paris in tenth place
While Fredrik Møller of Norway (50 points) is currently in fourth place and Stefan Rogentin (Switzerland) and Cameron Alexander (Canada) are tied for fifth place with 45 points, Dominik Paris is the only South Tyrolean in the ranking before the downhill classic: after finishing tenth in the super-G, the power package from Ulten has 26 points.

Incidentally, in the event of a tie, the better placement in one of the two races decides. If there is also a tie here, the choice falls in favor of the athlete with the better result in the downhill classic on Saturday.

Several additional prizes beckon
The Val Gardena Südtirol Ski Trophy is a prestigious special prize that was introduced in 2016. The winner of the trophy can look forward to a faithful 3D wooden bust, extra prize money of 5,000 euros, a short vacation in Val Gardena/Gröden and a climb of the Sassolungo/Langkofel accompanied by a local mountain guide. The winner can also redeem the latter prize even after his retirement.

Val Gardena Südtirol Ski Trophy – intermediate standings after the first race:
1. Mattia Casse (ITA) 100 points
2. Jared Goldberg (USA) 80
3. Marco Odermatt (SUI) 60
4. Fredrik Møller (NOR) 50
5. Stefan Rogentin (SUI) 45
5. Cameron Alexander (CAN) 45
10. Dominik Paris (ITA/Ulten) 26
11. Pietro Zazzi (ITA) 24
16. Nicolo Molteni (ITA) 15
30. Giovanni Franzoni (ITA) 1