The first competition of the 2017 Audi FIS Ski Cross Alps Tour has been bumped up a day, as the first of the weekend’s back-to-back races in Val Thorens (FRA) will now take place on Thursday, 7 December 2017 due to the threat of an incoming winter storm on Thursday night and into Friday.
Thursday will now see a full schedule of qualifications and finals on the same day, with the first qualifiers setting out at 09:45 CET, and finals getting underway at 12:30. Due to the compact programme for the day, the originally planned public heat selection (wherein the top athletes are able to select their competitors for their opening final heats) has been cancelled for Thursday’s competition. However, the public heat selection for Saturday’s competition is expected to go on according to schedule.
What are the chances for the GB Team?
Emily Sarsfield has found memories of Val Thorens having scored victories there at a Europa Cup in 2010 and a FIS race in 2016. She earned a pair of top 20 results at the corresponding event last year and will be looking to start her campaign on a high note.
Pamela Thorburn achieved a top 20 finish at the World Championships year and will be hoping to show that speed over the coming weeks. She consistently finished in the top 25 in her five World Cup events last year and scored two top 30 results at events in Austria last month.
Liz Stevenson is on the comeback trail after a knee injury required surgery earlier this year. Her best World Cup result came in France in 2015 when she finished 11th in Megeve, however she is yet to start a major race at Val Thorens.