(PRIMASPORT) MILAN – Eleven Italian athletes will be competing in the women's giant slalom in Soelden, the opening event of the World Cup, scheduled for Saturday, October 24th, on the Rettenbach Glacier. With Federica Brignone and Sofia Goggia announced as absent, the Italian team, led by Gianluca Rulfi and coach Luca Agazzi, features the return of Marta Bassino, who missed the entire season after sustaining an injury on the eve of the Austrian race. The 30-year-old from Cuneo, winner of the 2021 Giant Slalom World Cup, earned one of her seven career victories in Soelden and is back with renewed enthusiasm.
Alongside her is Lara Della Mea, currently the highest-ranked Italian in the event's start list (eleventh), and Laura Pirovano, who will compete in all the season's giant slalom events. The rest of the Italian athletes are also eagerly awaited, starting with Asja Zenere (17th last year), followed by Ilaria Ghisalberti (chasing her first qualification on the Rettenbach after three mid-race eliminations), Giorgia Collomb (her third appearance), Tatum Bieler (bronze medalist last year in the giant slalom at the Junior World Championships in Narvik and making her debut on the premier circuit), Emilia Mondinelli (her first appearance between the wide gates), and Anna Trocker (junior world champion in the event), while Alice Pazzaglia and Sophie Mathieu will have their spots secured for the entire season, thanks to their placings in the European Cup last year. The group is currently testing the upper part of the race course together with the other nations and will refine their preparations in Val Senales from Monday 19th to Wednesday 21st October. The giant slalom will start at 10:00 am (first run) and 1:00 pm (second run), with live television coverage on Raisport and Eurosport. (PRIMASPORT)
