Athletes from twenty nations on the track for the Coppa Europa in Santa Caterina Valfurva: first training on Monday

The Santa Caterina Valfurva winter season is getting into full swing, and while ski enthusiasts are enjoying the Immaculate Conception bridge and days of pure fun, the men of Technic Ski and Santa Caterina Impianti are working to sort out the last details in view of the now imminent stage of the Alpine Skiing European Cup.

Tomorrow - Sunday 10 December - the arrival of athletes and technicians from twenty nations is expected, who will take part in the week of men's races valid for the continental circuit. Two downhill races and a super-G are scheduled in Santa Caterina Valfurva, the first fast races of the season after the cancellation of the super-G in Zinal (Switzerland) that was to be run on Friday.

The programme has been confirmed, starting on Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 December with the two official downhill training sessions, one of which is compulsory in order to be able to regularly run the downhill races on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 December. On Friday 15, however, space is given to the super-G.

The race will take place on the famous Deborah Compagnoni, a very varied slope that offers both technical and sliding sections, with challenging passages and jumps of several metres. It has already hosted the World Cup and for several years has been used at the beginning of the season - thanks to guaranteed snow - for the organisation first of international youth races and then for the European Cup. In the past few days, the preparations have been completed, including the installation of the safety nets, all under the technical supervision of Tino Pietrogiovanna, an experienced professional both as a technician and in the organisation of large events. On the track, Omar Galli will continue to direct the operations, with the collaboration of Maurilio Alessi and a team prepared to handle even unfavourable weather conditions.

The most numerous nations will be Austria, France and Switzerland, together of course with Italy, which has more places, being the host nation. Thirty-three Italians are expected to start in the downhill and 38 for the weekend's Super-G. three British racers will join them, Roy Steudle, Owen Vinter and Europa Cup debutant, Elliott Bennett.


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