copravolley

Even after qualifying, it was clear that Pellegrino was in poor form, and worse still, he didn't gain anything in the knockout stages. He's 35 years old, and it's hard to imagine him continuing the Italian races for 15 years. The rest of the Italian team has made no progress and has no chance of winning medals in Cortina. Switzerland has two young guys in the final, but where are Italy? Not to mention the fact that Chanavat is currently stronger than Pellegrino. In the women's, Cassol placed 10th, but the podium is light years away. If we were the Czech Republic or Poland, I'd say such results are OK, but not with our traditions, conditions for training etc.

It was good. Did he ever sing at Eurovision?

It's hard to believe it was still in this calendar year

In last year, we were were happy with Brignone's wins, and today we're excite that della Mea is in the top 10... It's hard to imagine a bigger fall... And Goggia should give up on the giant slalom and focus on the speed events – Vonn isn't wasting time on the giant slalom, but is training for downhill and SG. Goggia last one finished on the podium in the giant slalom in march 2018, and she has no any chance of winning an Olympic medal at the regular competition. It's a waste of time and energy to finish 8th or 9th and risk injury. And we have to accept that without Brignone, we have no chance of winning a medal in the giant slalom in Cortina, and that's it.

I will just say that I'd like to live to see a time when we have someone like Stolz- a phenomenon who can win you 3 or 4 gold medals. A guy who, you know, if he goes at 100%, no one else will beat him. That's what happened to France with Marchand in swimming in 2024.

But sometimes such a stupid thing can end up with a serious injury...

The Netherlands is doing well, they have two strong disciplines (speed skating and short track), where they will win 6-7 gold medals and that's okay. There won't always be domination like in Sochi, but you will never end up with 0-1 gold like we did in 2010 and 2014.

Ghiotto might win bronze, but so what? He already had bronze in 2022. It's just unlucky that Jilek jumped out a year earlier with such form. We don't have the kind of phenomenon, even like the Czech Republic, to dominate a sport. The only hope is biathlon and someone like Giacomel, but I'm afraid Norway and France will kick our asses and maybe leave us with some bronze medals. It's just that they have teams, while we have two or three individuals, especially at the end of their careers, like Wierer.

To be Italian fan in winter sports is a nightmare... In every discipline, you encounter a force that will beat your ass If not Switzerland, then Austria in alpine skiing, the Netherlands in speed skating, Germany in luge and bobsleigh and Norway and France in biathlon, etc. And so it has been for 30 years.

Even in her best form, Lollobrigida unfortunately has no chance of winning medals in Cortina Wiklund, 3 Dutch, 2 Canadian... Even in the mass start it will be very difficult. These will be disastrous Games for us, considering what's happening in most disciplines. But what can you expect when you only count on one girl over 30 returning from maternity break? She had her prime in 2022, so where are her younger colleagues? Because the Netherlands is always looking for someone new...

I won't write about injuries (Fede) and non-sporting matters (Colturi), but the fact is that Italy has its worst start to the season in alpine skiing in over 10 years... Just one victory, and podiums- if any, they're mostly 3 places. We're also not leading in any of the season standings, no in the women's or men's categories. This isn't be it should be in an Olympic year in your country, where you're having your worst season in many years.

Yes, she was unlucky, but it could just as easily have happened during some training, like with Gut, etc. Brignone has been essentially injury-free throughout her long career, which is very rare in this sport. It's unfortunate that this happened after her best season ever and just 1 year before the Olympic Games in home, when she just missing of win the Olympic gold medal in her great career. With the gold in Cortina, she would have become a legend of Italian skiing, on par with Tomba. Now she's still the best Italian woman in history, but the miss of Olympic gold will likely haunt her for the rest of her life.

It sad to see this season, as I remember, that Fede last year was winning everywhere, when she competed and finished and now we haven't even managed a single podium in the giant slalom, and it'll probably stay that way until the end of the season. Without Fede and Bassino, unfortunately, we're out of good cards in this event. For me Goggia should probably skip the giant slalom at all, becouse she has no chance of a podium and she risks further injuries. If even Goggia finish 8th or 10th? What difference does it make? If she couldn't get a podium finish today with so many DNFs at the top skiers, she probably never do. Della Mea is OK this year, but let's be honest, she's not World Cup podium material. Overall, it's a sad picture, and we have a 0% chance of anything in Cortina unless a miracle happens in Brignone return. We have two chances for Goggia in DH and SG + maybe a dark horse in Pirovano/Curtoni in SG. That's all. In technical events, we have a 0% chance for medal and that's sad. Our federation also lost Colturi in this situation... In any normal country, the head of such a federation should be dismissed for disciplinary reasons and this case should be investigated by the minister, or even the prime minister, but not in Italy...

Ghiotto needs to have something extra for February - otherwise it will be bad - this season has been very bad for him, but I believe in magia f Marchetto - he has never disappointed at a major event since 2006.

Loubineaud- In my opinion, he is the main candidate for a weaker form in February: he has been in good form since November + the slow track in Milano doesn`t necessarily benefit him.

In my opinion, if Jilek maintains his form from his recent starts, he's almost certain to win two gold medals. But he's young- this will be his first Olympics ever, so we can only hope he's not at 100% form in February.

As of today, who do you consider the favorite in the 5k: Jilek, Eitrem, a Frenchman, Ghiotto + someone from the Netherlands? In that order?

In 2023 and 2024, Roest seemed unbeatable on 5 km. Ghiotto was to weak against him and always lost the same way: in the last two laps.

3 places also with Q for Cortina?

And these are already Olympic qualifications?

Roest had one last big chance at Olympic gold in 2022 against Van der Poel in the 5km. He lost minimal.

Bergsma has a good chance in the mass start, however.

But of course, for me the biggest loser will be probably Ghiotto in the 10 km: huge domination for almost all od the cycle, bur he will probably lose to the young Czech at home in Cortina, which was supposed to be the crowning achievement of his career.

The Netherlands may have the biggest problem in the men's long distances: even missing out on one medal is a real possibility, and in 2014 they won three medals in the 10 km.