The Ski World Cup returns to the Arlberg!
The cradle of alpine skiing, Lech/Zürs am Arlberg, is once again the venue for women’s and men’s World Cup races for the first time in 26 years. From 26.11. – 27.11.2020, the international skiing elite made a guest appearance in Zürs to compete in parallel giant slalom in the new “Flexenarena”.
The last international World Cup race had taken place in Lech in December 1994. At that time, the legendary Italian Alberto Tomba won the slalom ahead of the two Austrians Thomas Sykora and Michael Tritscher. In the period between 1988 and 1994, Lech am Arlberg was the venue for eight World Cup races. At the start of the 2020/21 winter season, the international ski circus now made a stop in Lech/Zürs once again.
Thrilling races
The Flexenarena, which was specially designed to host the two competitions, provided the ideal venue for the new format of the various Ski World Cup races. With a total length of 365 meters, a difference in altitude of 102 meters as well as an average gradient of 26%, the course demanded everything from the athletes. In the parallel events, runners fought not only for hundredths of a second, but woman against woman, man against man for advancement to the next round. In an exciting knockout system, overall World Cup winners Petra Vhlova and Alexis Pinturault crowned themselves the first winners of the parallel World Cup races in Zürs. After the successful return of the Alpine Ski World Cup to Lech/Zürs, the international ski cross will again make a stop in Zürs for the start of the upcoming 2021/22 winter season in mid-November. Of course, our Hotel Ulli will be open for this event for all winter sports enthusiasts.
Picture by Magdalena Walch