Predictions
The speed portion of the course is long enough that we should see at least one speed specialist on the podium. I like Meillard best of the three tech favorites although Pinturault has a very strong track record in this event. Finally, look out for the Canadians.
Course Info
The fastest time in the alpine combined training run was 1:42:01. The slalom should be around 50 seconds. The length of the DH relative to the SL is the best indicator of whether speed guys can be competitive. The last AC we saw was at World Championship in Cortina. That was a super-g and only 1:20:00. Jack Crawford was the top speed guy in 4th. Today's course is long enough that both Kilde and Crawford have a shot at the podium. Wind on the top of the DH course could be an issue.
DH Course Name: Rock
Course Designer: Swiss legend Bernhard Russi
Start Altitude: 2,179m
Finish Altitude: 1,285m
Vertical Drop: 894m
The Favorites
Alexis Pinturault - Has DNF/DNQ four of six SLs this season. He was 2nd in Madonna and 9th in Wengen. It's weird to say, but the speed side is the more positive story. He was of course 11th two days ago on this very same hill in the Olympic SG. He also scored two 6th place SG finishes in Beaver Creek back in December. He's also raced DH this year in Lake Louise and Beaver Creek. I think he'll be fine in speed compared to the names on this start list. The real question is can you trust him in SL? He won the AC silver last year at World Championships and four years ago in PyeongChang.
Loic Meillard - He's been in the top ten in four of six World Cup SL races this season. He's was 8th in the first Olympic DH training run although he did miss a gate. He's raced five SGs this season, finishing in the points in three races (best finish: 15th Bormio & Wengen). Meillard won the bronze at World Championships in Cortina.
Marco Schwarz - Gold medalist from the AC at World Championships. It's been a struggle this season after the ankle injury at the November that kept him out for a month. His best SL result of the season is a 10th in Wengen. He was 2nd fastest behind only Kriechmayr in today's AC training run although he did miss a gate. Can he ski fast enough in the SL to win?
Dark Horses
Aleksander Kilde - He didn't participate in today's training run, but we know what he can do in speed. He podiumed in two of the three ACs in 19-20 the last season we had ACs on the WC calendar. In those races his SL was respectable, only 1.5 seconds off of Pinturault.
Johannes Strolz - No World Cup DH or SG results. Won the SL in Adelboden, but only finished one other WC SL (5th Kitz). 4 SL DNFs this season. High DNF risk! Has been participating in DH training runs in China and shown decent results.
Justin Murisier - Has competed in 5 WC DHs this season. Has yet to finish in the points. Has had more success in SG 5th last season in Saalbach, 8th in Beaver Creek this season. Hasn't had a SL result of any kind since 2018.
Jack Crawford - As mentioned above, he was 4th in the AC last year at World Championships. There he won the super-g portion and was 5th fastest in the SL. We know Crawford has been on fire this season, especially the past month. If he can stay in the course in the SL he has a real shot at a medal.
Trevor Philp - Was 10th in the Olympic SG. He was 5th in AC training, a quarter of a second faster than Pinturault. He made the transition from tech to speed two years ago. He was only 10th in this event at World Championships and it was because of his SL. only 13th fastest on the day.
Simon Jocher - Missed a gate but was third fastest in today's training. He was also 5th at World Championships.
Luca Aerni - Was almost three seconds off Schwarz's time in today's training. Has been in the points in SL in four of six races this season, but with only one top 10 (5th in Adelboden). I don't think he can keep it close enough in speed to be competitive.
Facts & Trivia
Pinturault dominated this event while it was still on the WC calendar, winning three of the last four.
The Canadians have never won the combined at the Olympics or World Championships.
Marcel Hirscher was AC Olympic Champion in '18.
The Start List
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