Who but Kilde?

That the winner of the 54th edition of the Saslong Classic would have to race past Aleksander Aamodt Kilde was already clear long before the Norwegian clocked the best time in the final training for the downhill classic on Saturday. The 29-year-old feels right at home in Val Gardena/Gröden and is hunting for his next podium wins on the venerable Saslong after his speed double gold in 2020.

Bailet opens the super-G, favorites are chasing later

At the team captains' meeting on Thursday evening, the start numbers for the super-G on the Saslong were assigned.

"We are ready for Saturday"

At the third team captains' meeting on Thursday evening, those responsible for the Val Gardena-Gröden race week reviewed the successful final training for the downhill scheduled for Saturday.

Numerous TV stations broadcast the Val Gardena/Gröden speed races live

A large number of TV stations will ensure that the spectacular images from Val Gardena/Gröden of the 54th edition of the Saslong Classic can be viewed in real time from anywhere in the world. Here’s an overview of which stations will be broadcasting the two races live this weekend.

"The downhill will be a big challenge”

After the final training run, the focus of the speed racers already pivoted to the upcoming races. We captured some voices following the second training run.

Kilde in pole position for Saturday

In the second and final training session for the downhill classic on the Saslong, top favorite Aleksander Aamodt Kilde made a respectable statement with the fastest time.

The press clippings on the first downhill training run

The race week in Val Gardena/Gröden started on Wednesday with the first training run for Saturday’s downhill classic. Many national and international media reported on the training start on the Saslong. 

Werner Heel, the last victorious "Azzurro" on the Saslong

It has been a long time since the Italian national anthem was played at the Saslong Classic in honor of the winner. 13 years ago, on December 19, 2008, Werner Heel won the super-G in Val Gardena/Gröden ahead of Didier Defago (Switzerland) and Patrik Jaerbyn (Sweden). A day that is still very present in the 39-year-old from the Passeier valley and still arouses emotions.

Final training live on TV

Good news for all ski fans: The second training for the downhill classic on the Saslong can be followed live on TV … that is if you have Eurosport! 

"Very good first training”

On Wednesday evening, the second team captains' meeting took place in Selva/Wolkenstein. The focus was on the today’s first downhill training as well as tomorrow’s final training.

Marco Odermatt & Matthias Mayer: These are wearing the red jerseys

There have been already two races each this World Cup winter in the super-G and downhill disciplines. The Swiss Marco Odermatt (super-G) and the Austrian Matthias Mayer (downhill) collected the most points.

"Kilde is the top favorite"

US skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle put his stamp on the first downhill training in a big way. Despite clocking his best time, however, the 29-year-old sees the role of favorite for Saturday's race with another athlete. We have captured the voices of the racers of the first training run.

Cochran-Siegle is the first to impress on the Saslong

On Wednesday, the first of two training runs for the downhill classic on the Saslong was on the program in Val Gardena/Gröden. In good outside conditions, American Ryan Cochran-Siegle made people sit up and take notice with a clear challenge.

One favorite is missing: Kjetil Jansrud is the big absentee

When the “crème de la crème” of the international ski circuit fights for World Cup points at the foot of the Sassolungo/Langkofel mountain on Friday and Saturday, one of their biggest players will unfortunately not be at the start: Norwegian Kjetil Jansrud suffered a serious knee injury at the beginning of December and is relegated to participate as a spectator at the 54th edition of the Saslong Classic.

“Thrilled we can be all here"

On Tuesday evening, the first Team Captains' meeting took place in Selva/Wolkenstein. It included a comprehensive review at the upcoming four days of racing - the current COVID situation was also a topic.

Nine "Azzurri" tackle the Saslong

For the Italian national ski team, the speed classics in Val Gardena/Gröden are always among the highlights of the season. This year, nine local athletes are taking part in the two races at the foot of the Sassolungo/Langkofel mountain.

The Press Center is the heart of the Val Gardena/Gröden race week

Just as in years past, the media center for the speed classics on the Saslong is once again located in the gymnasium of St. Cristina. All paths lead to this centrally located building - at the same time, the spacious and well-ventilated hall offers all media people a safe workplace.

In Val Gardena/Gröden everything is ready for the 54th Saslong Classic with audience

The long wait for the renowned speed classics on the Saslong has come to an end. On Friday, December 17, a Super-G will be held at the Alpine Ski World Cup in Val Gardena/Gröden, followed by the absolute highlight of the top-class South Tyrolean winter sports event on Saturday, December 18 with the downhill. After an intensive preparation phase, nothing stands in the way of an athletic fireworks display that spectators will be able to witness again this year.

Who will win this year’s DOLOMITES Val Gardena South Tyrol Ski Trophy?

The World Cup organizers in Val Gardena/Gröden, together with the tourism managers of DOLOMITES Val Gardena Marketing, have set a special prize with the goal of enhancing the classics on the Saslong. In this competition, the racer who scores the most World Cup points in the races at the foot of the Sassolungo/Langkofel mountain on the last weekend before Christmas can once again look forward to the DOLOMITES Val Gardena South Tyrol Ski Trophy and thus to an original 3D wooden bust, as well as extra prize money of 5,000 euros and a short vacation in Val Gardena/Gröden.

Snow control passed - curtain up for the 54th Saslong Classic on December 17 and 18

One and a half weeks before the first downhill training, the traditional FIS snow control took place on the Saslong on Saturday. After this routine procedure, the International Ski Federation confirmed the World Cup races in Val Gardena/Gröden. The program includes a training run each on Wednesday, December 15 and Thursday, December 16. The Super-G, on the other hand, will take place on Friday, December 17, while one of Italy's biggest winter sports events will conclude with the Downhill on Saturday, December 18.

We are looking forward to welcoming you back!

Dear friend of the Saslong Classic Club:

After two long years, it is now official! At this year's Audi FIS Ski World Cup Val Gardena/Gröden, fans can join us live on site. That's why you can once again cheer loudly for your idols when they race for the coveted winner's trophies on Friday, December 17 and Saturday, December 18, 2021 as part of the 54th Saslong Classic.

Val Gardena/Gröden is Italy’s Candidate for the 2029 Alpine Ski World Championships

Val Gardena/Gröden has come a first step closer to its big dream of hosting the 2029 Alpine World Ski Championships. The Italian winter sports federation FISI voted on Thursday noon in favor of a candidacy of the South Tyrolean World Cup organizer at the international level. In the duel with Sestriere, Val Gardena/Gröden prevailed in a secret vote with 8:2 votes of the total of ten delegates. Val Gardena/Gröden hosted World Championships in 1970.

Val Gardena/Gröden is positioning itself for sustainable World Ski Championships in 2029

The legendary Saslong and Ciampinoi-3 slopes are to host the Alpine World Ski Championships for the second time since 1970. Val Gardena/Gröden would like to host resource-saving competitions in seven and a half years and wants to make use of already existing slopes and predominantly existing infrastructures. A dossier was recently handed over to the Italian winter sports federation FISI, whose board will choose between Val Gardena/Gröden and the second candidate Sestriere on September 9. After that, the winner of this preliminary election at national level can submit its official candidacy to the international ski federation FIS.

Val Gardena/Gröden inspires the entire ski circuit once again

Despite all that is going on, everything was ready in Val Gardena/Gröden shortly before Christmas for a spectacular World Cup weekend at the foot of the Sassolungo/Langkofel mountain. The Saslong Classic Club around President Rainer Senoner provided flawlessly organized races in its usual professional manner and offered athletes, staff and journalists a safe working environment thanks to a well thought-out preparation.

Kilde doubles up with a downhill victory in Val Gardena/Gröden

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is the outstanding athlete of the 53rd Saslong Classic. Just one day after his super-G triumph, the Norwegian followed up in the downhill classic and raced to his third victory overall at the foot of the Sassolungo/Langkofel mountain.

"It's great to follow in the footsteps of my idol"

With his triumph in the downhill - his second victory within 24 hours - Aleksander Aamodt Kilde finally crowned himself the superstar of the 53rd Saslong Classic. The voices of the protagonists.

"One of the most difficult and most beautiful editions"

With the victory of the outstanding Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, an extraordinary Val Gardena/Gröden race week came to an end on Saturday. The president of the Saslong Classic Club, Rainer Senoner, can look back on a successful World Cup stage under special circumstances.

DOLOMITES Val Gardena Südtirol Ski Trophy also goes to Kilde

The inaugural winner of the DOLOMITES Val Gardena Südtirol Ski Trophy is Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. The Norwegian grabbed the most World Cup points in this year's speed events on the Saslong and can now look forward to winning the prestigious special prize.

News on Kilde's victory in downhill classic makes it around the world

A large number of national and international online media devoted a report to the downhill triumph of Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. Here is a short excerpt.

Urs Kryenbühl starting with bib 1 in the downhill race

On Friday evening, the team captains' meeting featured the bib number assignment for Saturday's downhill.