Alpine skiing: Numerous returnees in ÖSV squads for Sölden

On Tuesday the Austrian Ski Association announced the squads for the two giant slalom season-opening races on Saturday (women) and Sunday (men) at the Rettenbachferner in Sölden. Among them are numerous athletes who missed last winter or summer due to injuries. Marcel Hirscher and Anna Veith lead the way.

Andreas Puelacher, the sports director of the ÖSV men’s team, also nominated Roland Leitinger, Stefan Brennsteiner and Daniel Meier, who had torn their cruciate ligaments between autumn 2017 and February 2018, after training in Sölden. Philipp Schörghofer has not contested a race since 18 March 2017 due to knee problems caused by cartilage damage and is now making his comeback.

Manuel Feller had been seeded next to Hirscher, and speed double Olympic champion Matthias Mayer, who wants to intensify his RTL plans, also gets a chance. Michael Matt, Marco Schwarz and Christian Hirschbühl were not considered, according to Puelacher one of the reasons is the high starting number. Johannes Strolz as overall European Cup winner and second placed Dominik Raschner are eligible to compete in all disciplines of the World Cup.

On the ladies’ side, Jürgen Kriechbaum also nominated Stephanie Brunner, who had torn her left knee at the Austrian Downhill Championships Kreuzband and Meniskus after the end of the World Cup season on 20 March.

As overall winner of the European Cup, Nina Ortlieb has fixed starting places in all disciplines, as giant slalom third Katharina Liensberger is a fixed participant.