Combined Rules Change But Pinturault Is Still On The Podium At Bormio

Alpine Combined rules change but Frenchman Alexis Pinturault is always the one who wins it. Podium for the Norwegian Kilde and Swiss Meillard in the very first AC with new rules.

Today's Alpine Combined was the first taking place according to the Thoma - Schroecksnadel method which consists in a Slalom start order that follows the SuperG official order. This new rule was introduced to rebalance the relationship between slalomists and downhillers, which was far too unbalanced favouting of the first category.

Alexis Pinturault puts his signature on the Stelvio and wins today's Alpine Combined! The Frenchman was the favourite No. 1 in spite of being back to competitions after the injury suffered in Val Badia, he didn't missed the appointment and won the Alpine Combined that took place on the Stelvio thanks to a good SuperG and an excellent slalom in which he definitely was ahead of the others. Alexis Pinturault was somehow cautious during his SuperG race and managed to get a 12th position with a disadvantage of +0.97 from Kilde.

Pinturault then did something spectacular along the "rapid gates" and jumped on the highest step of the Alpine Combined putting important points for the general World Cup in his poket. Second position goes to a very happy Aleksander Aamodt Kilde from Norway, who did very well in slalom too, just +0.51 behind Pinturault. Thanks to these 80 points, Kilde is now on top of the overall World Cup standings, 20 points more than Dominik Paris, the Stelvio dominator who did a few mistakes in his slalom race after another great SuperG race (he ended with a 26th place). Third place for the Swiss Loic Meillard, 8th position in SuperG and 2nd position in slalom. An excellent 4th position for Riccardo Tonetti, +1"87 from the winner and +1"31 from the podium in spite of some mistakes in both races.

So an exciting Bormio World Cup edition has come to the end. This is the first main event after the Winter Olympics Milan-Cortina 2026. Next appointment is therefore at the end of December 2020 with another competition on the Stelvio.

Pinturault said "My goal is to recover from the adductor injury, it is essential to rest then I will do some slaloms before Zagreb. I don't know if I will be here for the 2026 Olympics, I focus on the present but it would be fantastic to participate."

Meillard added "I'm happy with my podium, also because the Swiss team did very well all three days! The new rules of the alpine combined have changed and it's difficult to say if the previous ones were better than the new ones but certainly the important thing is to be fast in the first race. It is my first time in Bormio, I feel comfortable here, everything is well organized and this morning I had fun with the SuperG.It is fantastic that the Olympics are back in Europe, where we will be able to compete in front of our friends and family. My goal now is to improve in all disciplines."

Kilde concluded " I think the new rules of the Alpine combined are good, slalom is a challenge and today the Super G was a challenge too. I think it would be fun to make a shorter super G and a shorter slalom too so that it is easier for slalomists to face Super G. The Stelvio is always a challenge, it is difficult, it is icy but I like it, it leaves your legs on fire!"

During the last Captains' Meeting - a briefing taking place the day before the race when the coaches meet with FIS managers to discuss the organizational skills of the Organizing Committee and of all those involved in the preparation of the event - the Italian Marcus Waldner (FIS Speed events manager) expressly recognized the 100% growth of Bormio Ski World Cup. Waldner underlined “the actual increase of the event both in terms of men employed on the track (almost 300 this year) to prepare Stelvio but also the increasing number of side events, concretely growing if compared to the past. This is an excellent starting point for the journey that will lead the town to host the men's races of the 2026 Winter Olympics".