Little concern for Pinturault?

It’s time for caution for Alexis Pinturault. Indeed, slightly “suffering”, according to the words of his supervisors, the Frenchman will continue to spare himself two days before his big debut at the Alpine Skiing World Championships, in Courchevel and Méribel (from February 6 to 19, 2023). This is why the native of Moutiers will not appear this Sunday during a press briefing planned in the “world capital of skiing”, where he was expected in the company of other skiers from the French team. A priori, a simple precautionary measure on the part of the Savoyard, who has been training normally in recent days, although he has recently had a cold and slightly feverish. Moreover, according to a press release published by the French Ski Federation (FFS), Pinturault “hopes to do the free skiing (training on the track) of the alpine combined” this Monday. Rather reassuring news therefore concerning one of the leaders of the tricolor delegation.

Pinturault skipped the Chamonix slalom

World champion in 2019 and vice-world champion in 2021 in the discipline, the Frenchman should therefore hold his place well next Tuesday during the first men’s race of these Worlds. As a reminder, the person concerned had decided not to line up on Saturday during the Chamonix slalom, Pinturault preferring to preserve himself before this big meeting of the season. “Not going there was one of the only options to cut and do a few days of training without dispersing myself. Nervously, psychologically, it’s important to get away from the World Cup circuit a bit before tackling the Worlds, to arrive fresh and put myself in the best possible condition for this competition. Make no mistake, the slalom (February 19) is my lowest chance of medaling at the Worlds. I will have good cartridges to play before, “he explained in particular, in comments collected by L’Equipe.