Marco Odermatt openly criticized the international ski federation at a press conference. The overall leader of the World Cup strongly questioned the programming of the FIS.
Returning Monday from the North American tour, Marco Odermatt is the favorite of the giant of Val d’Isère, Saturday (from 9:20 a.m. on RTS2), before competing in 5 races in 5 days from next Thursday in Italy.
The 25-year-old Nidwalden, title holder of the big crystal globe, must participate in official training on Tuesday and Wednesday then in a downhill Thursday in Val Gardena, resumed following the cancellation of a downhill in Beaver Creek, before a super-G and another descent in the same station. The following 2 days, he will have to face the 2 giants planned on the very demanding track of Alta Badia.
“It’s a hell of a program, especially following 3 weeks in North America. I had 2 days of training and we must go directly, explained Odermatt. I try to keep as much energy as possible. I find that completely silly coming from the FIS (International Ski Federation). Planning such a sequence is not thinking regarding safety. However, there is a safety committee! It’s obviously not ideal.”
afp/tzing
