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Matterhorn Cervino Speed Opening: First Cross-Border Ski World Cup Race in History

2022.04.28
© Matterhorn Cervino Speed Opening
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© Matterhorn Cervino Speed Opening
In autumn 2022, the time has come: the first cross-border Ski World Cup Race in the history of the World Cup will be held on the «Gran Becca» course, newly designed by Olympic downhill champion Didier Défago!
While the finish is in Cervinia (Laghi Cime Bianche), Italy, the start is above Zermatt (Gobba di Rollin) in Switzerland - at 3800 metres, which makes the Matterhorn Cervino Speed Opening the highest downhill race in the World Cup calendar!

The World Cup races in Zermatt/Cervinia will take place on 29/30 October and 5/6 November 2022 - immediately after the World Cup opener in Sölden. The programme includes two downhill runs each for the men and women. The Matterhorn Cervino Speed Opening will thus open the World Cup season for speed athletes.

The course


The course, which starts at 3,800 metres above sea level and finishes at 2,865 metres above sea level, was designed by Didier Défago, 2010 Olympic downhill champion. Covering 935 metres of altitude over four kilometres, the maximum speed is around 135 km/h. All the athletes will tackle the same piste, with the women's start slightly below the men's.

As the new 3S cable car from Testa Grigia to the Klein Matterhorn, which will connect Cervinia and Zermatt all year round, cannot be completed until spring 2023, the start will be moved further down. The men's downhill in 2022 will take place in Zermatt at an altitude of 3,700 m. The finish in Cime Bianche, Cervinia, is at 2,835 m.

The name "Gran Becca"


In Valtournenche, Italy, the Matterhorn is often referred to as "Gran Becca" - the big peak - in the local dialect. The shape of the "Gran Becca" will be visible on the entire race course and will stay with the athletes all the way to the finish in Laghi Cime Bianche. The name of the new race course is a reminder of the affection the residents of Valtournenche have developed for the Matterhorn over decades.

Tags: #ski resorts #matternhorn #cervino #world cup #fis #zermatt #downhill

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