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Alpine Skiing World Championships: Francesca Marsaglia predicting 'the best world championship' in France
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Published 04/02/2023 at 11:50 GMT
The Alpine Skiing World Championships runs from February 6-19 in Courchevel and Meribel and will see the world’s top Alpine talent battle it out on French territory for the first time since the 2009 Championships in Val d’Isere. Eurosport Alpine skiing expert and former professional skier Francesca Marsaglia has given her thoughts on the men's side of the event.
Noel storms to first victory in over year to end long drought
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Francesca Marsaglia believes the 2023 Alpine Skiing World Championships will be "the best world championship" with a heavyweight men's lineup set to take to the slopes.
On the men's side, world No. 1 Marco Odermatt is set to impress while Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, Henrik Kristoffersen and young gun Lucas Braathen will all be competing at the Championships heading to Meribel and Courchevel in France this month.
Eurosport Alpine skiing expert Marsaglia is expecting "a great fight" in the men's super-G and downhill which take place on February 9 and 12 respectively.
"I think [it] will be probably the best world championship because the level is really high," she told Eurosport.
"There are a lot of skiers that can get medals. For the men’s side, I think that will be a great fight between Kilde and Odermatt for super-G and downhill.
"Maybe an outsider like Mattia Casse. He has really a confidence with him in this moment but it depends about the conditions of the snow but I think this will be a great fight between Odermatt and Kilde for the speed events.
"Different for the technical one because the level is amazing and I think that 15 men can get a medal and in this moment, I guess that Loic Meillard is ready to get his first medal. Now is the right moment.
"He is really confident. He has the right approach to these events across slalom, GS and combine.
"Meillard and [Marco] Schwarz will be favourite. Maybe super-G too. It depends if they put a technical super-G or more down the track.
"Surely, the young Norwegians are ready to kick off the first important event for them – Atle Lie McGrath, Braathen and even (Alexander) Steen Olsen. He did an amazing two races at Schladming so I think he is ready for the big step up."
The Italian former World Cup Alpine ski racer believes Frenchman Clement Noel is "mentally ready" to win at home after he stormed to his first victory since December 2021 in the men's slalom at Schladming on January 24.
She added: "For the slalom, Clement Noel has big goals in his home race, in a home world championship. It’s always so special. He’s an Olympic champion.
"He won the first slalom of the season. He’s mentally ready for a championship at home."
Norway have one of the strongest squads competing at the World Championships. Marsaglia believes their ability to train in the summer gives the team an advantage over the rest of the competition.
"I think the Norwegian squad is amazing," she added. "It’s amazing to feel the relationships that they have.
"The secret for the young Norwegians is that they have the opportunity to train, even in the summer. In Oslo, they have a centre to do preparation for the winters.
"They had an opportunity to train with Kilde, etc so I think that it is important to watch the big athletes every day. That’s the difference. It is so important to put your limits even higher. Even if you are the best junior skier.
"If you watch these athletes, you understand that you have not even started to do your career. It is great mental work."
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Stream the 2023 Alpine Skiing World Championships from February 6-19 live on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk.
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