For Loïc Meillard, the 3Tre Night Slalom has never been just another World Cup race. The Canalone Miramonti is a slope that plays to his smooth, precise skiing, yet one that has so far always demanded a price in return. In recent seasons, the Swiss skier has repeatedly come close to the top step in Madonna di Campiglio. Twelve months ago, victory slipped away by just 44 hundredths of a second, denied by an inspired performance from Bulgaria’s Albert Popov. Two editions earlier, his challenge ended in the second run, when he was still firmly in contention for the win.
All clear signs of a special connection with the Canalone Miramonti – and of the calibre of the 29-year-old from Neuchâtel – who will once again be among the athletes to watch on Wednesday, January 7th, with two runs scheduled for 6.00 pm and 9.00 pm.
“Madonna di Campiglio is special for me,” said Meillard. “There’s always a great atmosphere. The slope is beautiful, perfectly prepared, and the crowd is incredible. Racing under the floodlights is always a fantastic experience. It will be a great race, one that has to be approached on the attack. In Campiglio you usually have very good sensations thanks to the quality of the course and the snow – you feel good on your skis, and that allows you to push a bit more.”
“The slope is slightly shorter than the standard World Cup layout, but that’s not a problem at all. It’s a very technical race, and to be at the front you need to carry speed from the first gate to the last. There are no breaks and no section matters more than another. You have to let the skis run, and I expect to be able to do that, as I have in recent slalom races.”
With a third place in Val d’Isère and a second in Alta Badia, Meillard has made a strong start to the slalom World Cup season. He has also already claimed victory in Val d’Isère in giant slalom. “I’ve had a really good start to the season and I’m feeling very strong. With Madonna di Campiglio, a long January dedicated to slalom begins, and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a physically demanding period, where managing training, rest and racing is crucial if you want to perform consistently at your best. The margin between doing things right and getting it wrong is very fine – the key is finding the right balance and staying there.”
Despite the Milano–Cortina Olympic Games on the horizon, Meillard has no intention of holding back and is keen to capitalise on his current form. “The Olympic Games are still a long way off. There are many slaloms to race, and right now I’m only focused on Madonna di Campiglio and on delivering a strong result, without putting too much pressure on myself. The level in slalom is extremely high – there are many rivals who have already achieved big results this season, from McGrath, who won in Alta Badia, to Noel, Kristoffersen, Braathen and Haugan, not to mention the Austrians. It’s going to be an incredible battle, and that’s exactly what raises the level and pushes everyone to give a little bit more.”
