The Nationale piste in Crans-Montana has recently successfully passed its FIS inspection. Hannes Trinkl, the International Ski Federation race director for speed events, and his assistant Raimund Plancker have given the green light to the legendary Crans-Montana piste to host the World Championship men's competitions. Stéphane Robyr, technical head of the Crans-Montana World Cup ski races, piste manager Patrice Morisod, Bertrand Cassignol, CEO of the CMA ski lifts, and also Daniel Bollinger, director of the Swiss-Ski World Championships, were also present for the piste inspection.

However, artificial snow still needs to be installed on the upper section of the course, various fibre optic cables need to be laid and minimal corrections to the piste need to be made in order to meet all the safety criteria required to host World Championship events.

The Nationale is legendary. Its rich history is proof of this. In 1940, the Swiss downhill championships were due to be held here, with a start at Cry d'Er and a finish just above the Clinique Lucernoise, however this had to be cancelled due to the mobilisation of the Swiss army at the start of the Second World War.

Between 1942 and 1966, the Nationale was the setting for the annual Mont Lachaux Trophy. The men started from Bellalui. Local skier Georges (Collo) Felli, who was also a ski jumper and ice hockey player, held the course record for a long time. In the last edition of the competition, which was won by the German Franz Vogler, a certain Bernhard Russi, aged 18, finished in 20th place after starting with race number 80. Famous names appear on the roll of honour for race winners: Madeleine Berthod, Erika Netzer, Brigitte Lafforgue and Annerösli Zryd in the women's category, Edy Rominger, Stein Eriksen, Chiharu Igaya, Edy Reinalter, Christian Pravda, Egon Zimmermann and Karl Schranz in the men's. The Mont Lachaux Trophy disappeared when the municipality of Crans-Montana withdrew the 30,000 francs that they contributed towards it each year (!).

In 1977, the Women's Alpine Skiing World Cup made its first stop in Crans-Montana. Austria’s Brigitte Totschnig won the downhill on the Nationale, in front of Evi Mittermaier, Anne-Marie Pröll and Marie-Therese Nadig. France’s Perrine Pelen triumphed in the slalom ahead of Lise-Marie Morerod and Fabienne Serrat. The Nationale Ski Area hosted the White Circus five more times (three times for the men, twice for the women) up until the unforgettable 1987 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships on the Haut-Plateau. The Lauberhorn downhill and slalom, which had to be cancelled due to lack of snow, were held in Crans-Montana.

The new era of World Cup races, relaunched by Marius Robyr and Hugo Steinegger, began with women's competitions in 2008 and 2010 on the Nationale, followed by three men's races in 2012. From 2014 onwards, the Crans-Montana stage has become a classic on the women's World Cup calendar on the attractive Mont Lachaux piste – the site for the women's races in the '87 WC. The piste has been renovated and modernised in several stages, thanks to major investment. It now meets the requirements for the 2027 World Championships, as does the Nationale. Both pistes were approved once again by the FIS in 2022.

The Nationale slope has also undergone several major facelifts, notably in 1971, to create the course for the 1987 World Championships, and in 2007, in order to be able to host the Alpine Skiing World Cup again on the Haut-Plateau from 2008. In the autumn of 2021, extensive work was carried out on the upper part of the course between the start at Bellalui and Cry d'Er.

Hannes Trinkl praised the work carried out during the course inspection. “The Nationale is perfectly suited to the technical requirements of modern ski racing. It is also truly spectacular, both for the spectators on site and watching on television” said the former Austrian downhill world champion (2001) and bronze medallist at the 1998 Olympic Games in Nagano/Japan. The Nationale is a real challenge for competitors, because of its 3,670 metre length. The start is at an altitude of 2'520 metres and the finish at 1'545 metres, a difference in altitude of 981 metres. The estimated race time is between 2'10 and 2'15.

Whether on the website, Facebook or Instagram, the Organising Committee of the Crans-Montana World Cup Ski Races has been very positive about the extensive all-round service provided by soldiers from the Swiss Army on the pistes and in setting up infrastructure. It is a fact that the World Cup races here could hardly be organised without this help.

The services delivered by the Army for this year's World Cup races were acknowledged in a dignified closing ceremony, with the return of the standard. The officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers from the entire Exploration Battalion 1 - whose 1/1 company was engaged for three weeks in Crans-Montana - as well as those of the PDG command company - gathered at the Place de l'Etang Long, listening attentively to the words of praise from their commander, Lieutenant-Colonel EMG Patrick Kübler. A heartfelt thank you from the World Cup Organising Committee was also shared. As usual, it was Brigadier Marius Robyr who shared some compelling words on behalf of the committee.

The military ceremony took place in front of a large number of civilian and military guests, headed by Brigadier Serge Pignat, Commander of the Mechanised Brigade 1, of which the Expl. 1 bat. is a part. Naturally, a Swiss military music band was present too.

DEPREZphoto sa, cransmontana

The celebrations for the women's World Cup races in Crans-Montana this weekend were amazing, even though it was only possible to hold the downhill race. Tens of thousands of fans gathered at the foot of the Mont Lachaux piste on Saturday and Sunday, while on both Friday and Saturday evening, large crowds of fans were also present for the race number draws at the Ycoor ice rink.

The Organising Committee would like to thank the competitors for the show, the great audiences for the atmosphere, RTS for the wonderful images, and also the volunteers, the Association of communes ACCM, the CMA ski lifts, the canton of Valais, the army and the civil protection, as well as our faithful partners and sponsors who all contributed to make this a wonderful weekend of skiing.

NUMBER OF SPECTATORS

Friday 24 February
Ycoor ice rink > Draw for race numbers and entertainment: 3'000

Saturday 25 February
Downhill (postponed): 12'000
Ycoor ice rink > Draw for race numbers and entertainment: 2'500

Sunday 26 February
Downhill (instead of super G): 9'500

Total: 27'000 

Over the weekend (25/26 February), the bus company SMC transported a total of 42'059 people!

We look forward to seeing you on 17 and 18 February 2024 for the next women’s World Cup races, a downhill and a super G.

Video: SkiActu

Despite the vagaries of the past week, Marius Robyr was smiling once again at the end of the World Cup weekend in Crans-Montana. The president of the Organising Committee was especially pleased with the huge public celebrations over the weekend and the great race on Sunday.

"I'm not going to lie to you, at 11am on Sunday morning I was tense. I was afraid that we were going to have a repeat of Saturday." Marius Robyr's weekend was not a relaxing one. It has to be said that the weather this week wasn’t really on the side of the organisers in Valais. After over ten days of very high temperatures, fog played a nasty trick in Crans-Montana on Saturday, forcing a chain of postponements before an inevitable cancellation. The scenario was almost repeated on Sunday. Although it was much colder, with temperatures well below zero, the sky was not that clear.

In the end, it was possible to start the downhill in Crans-Montana, half an hour late. "I was embarrassed to announce further postponements," says Marius Robyr, all too aware of the difficulties of putting on such an event. "But at the end of the day, you have a happy and proud president in front of you now." Because the event on Sunday was indeed a regular one for all the competitors, and it showed the world a spectacular Mont Lachaux piste, true to its reputation. "The conditions were good, we wouldn't have been reckless sending the forerunners and skiers out. "

The icing on the cake was that the best downhill skier in the world, Sofia Goggia, won ahead of her compatriot Federica Brignone, who loves Crans-Montana. "It was an absolutely magnificent race," continued the boss of the event. "It's a great reward for the 520 people who have worked day and night to put on these competitions. It’s also splendid to be able to thank the 30,000 or so spectators who were present over the weekend."

Sofia Goggia won the Crans-Montana downhill in style, narrowly beating an impressive Federica Brignone, and a surprise Laura Gauché from France in third place . The top Swiss, Joana Hählen, finished 5th.

The Italians feel almost at home in Crans-Montana. On Sunday, they showed that they are very comfortable on the Mont Lachaux piste. The day after the Valais downhill was postponed due to fog and soft snow conditions, the conditions on Sunday were better for the race, even if it was initially delayed due to reduced visibility and a bit of snow. In the end, the downhill race was held on a piste in excellent condition, and it was won by Sofia Goggia.

The overall favourite from Bergamo took all the risks to win her 22nd World Cup title, her fourth in Crans-Montana. This could be a decisive step towards winning the crystal globe for the downhill, since her main competitor Ilka Stuhec ‘only’ finished  in 9th place, and is 179 points behind, with only two downhills to go until the end of the season. It was another Italian who almost deprived the 2018 Olympic champion of her win. In the end, Federica Brignone finished only 0.15 behind Sofia Goggia. She is comfortable on the Mont Lachaux piste in a resort she loves, and this is her 7th podium finish in the Valais resort, her first in the downhill. After a difficult start to the season, the recent world Combined champion has confirmed that she is back at her top level.

Laura Gauché’s third place was a surprise. This is the first podium place in 111 World Cup races for the French 27-year-old. She was very fluid on a piste that held up perfectly, and finished 0.41 behind the day’s winner. Starting with bib number 26, she deprived Ragnhild Mowinckel of a second consecutive podium on the Haut-Plateau, beating her by 0.02.

These performances deprived the Swiss of a top 3 finish in front of their home crowd, who once again turned out in large numbers. Joana Hählen, who had no hesitation in attacking the course from beginning to end, finished 5th, less than two tenths away from 3rd place. One year after her fantastic win, Priska Nufer took 6th place (+0.65). The Valais course suits Swiss athletes well, as Michelle Gisin took a nice 8th place (+0.72).

However Lara Gut-Behrami didn’t have as much success, finishing 13^th, at 0.89. Méribel world champion Jasmine Flury was less than perfect when negotiating some sections, so had to settle for 17th place, with +1.21. Finally, Corinne Suter and Delia Durrer finished further behind.

DEPREZphoto sa, cransmontana/Frédéric Dubuis & Agence Zoom

The Swiss Army and Civil Defence are among the most committed supporters of the women's World Cup in Crans-Montana. Without their total commitment, which is greatly appreciated, "we would not have any World Cup races", says Marius Robyr, president of the Organising Committee.

Some 220 members of the army - one company from the Reconnaissance Battalion 1 and another from the Patrouille des Glaciers Command - as well as 60 people from Civil Protection are involved in the women's World Cup Classic. All these people actively help make the event a success.

"Once again this year, all these people are highly motivated and do an excellent job," says Edgar Gillioz (left on the photo below), praising the tireless assistance provided by the army and Civil Protection. The Valais local, who has been in charge of this area of the Organising Committee since 2016, speaks the same language, as he is a retired Lieutenant-Colonel. This is an important factor in helping to ensure that the forces involved interact as smoothly as possible.

"There are sometimes very long days, starting at 4am on the pistes due to snowfall. You can demand this of the military. We couldn't do it with volunteers, we wouldn't find the numbers," adds Edgar Gillioz.

DEPREZphoto sa, cransmontana/Frédéric Dubuis

On Saturday lunchtime on the Mont-Lachaux piste, the fans - lots of them as usual – weren't able to applaud the best female downhill skiers in the world. However as night fell, they headed to Ycoor ice rink for the bib draw for Sunday's downhill, which replaces the super-G. As was the case the previous day, the stars Sofia Goggia, Lara Gut-Behrami, Corinne Suter and Jasmine Flury, newly crowned world downhill champion in Courchel/Meribel just a fortnight ago, were there in person to receive their bibs from a giant piñata (made of letters forming the name of the resort) in front of some 2,500 spectators.

DEPREZphoto sa, cransmontana/Frédéric Dubuis - Video: SkiActu