The Yuzuwa slalom, which counts for the Men’s Alpine Ski World Cup, has been canceled due to weather conditions in the Japanese winter sports resort, organizers announced on Sunday.
The event was initially scheduled to start at 10 a.m. local time (2 a.m. in Switzerland), but rain and wind led the organizers to postpone the start of the first round three times. They finally announced at 12:30 local time (4:30 in Switzerland) that the event was canceled.
“Due to the weather conditions, especially the strong winds, the jury and the organizers decided to cancel the slalom,” said the International Ski Federation. “The date and place where this slalom will be rescheduled will be announced later,” she added.
The day before, the weather had already disrupted the giant slalom won by the Croatian Filip Zubcic. Gusts of wind and spring temperatures had surprised several favorites.
Kilde gets a good deal
The long trip to Japan, ultimately a single race (the World Cup was originally also to stop in China in mid-February but this Chinese round was canceled due to fears linked to the coronavirus), paradoxically consolidated the chances of the Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde to lift the crystal globe from the overall World Cup standings.
Kilde, specialist in speed disciplines, had finished Saturday 6th of the giant of Naeba, just behind his compatriot Henri Kristoffersen and far ahead of the French Alexis Pinturault (15th), his two rivals for the final victory in the general classification of the World Cup.
The Norwegian is the overall leader with 1022 points, 74 more than Kristoffersen (948) and 124 more than Pinturault (898).
The next race weekend in Hinterstoder, Austria, with three events in three days on the program (combined, super-G and giant slalom), could therefore be a turning point in the season. (AFP / nxp)
Created: 23.02.2020, 08h01
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