With nine days to go, the 3Tre can already be felt throughout Madonna di Campiglio. Preparations for the event on Wednesday, January 7th are in full swing, and anticipation for the 72nd edition of the Night Slalom is clearly building, both in the village and on the slope.

On Tuesday, December 29th, the International Ski Federation (FIS) officially confirmed the positive outcome of the snow control, the routine inspection of the racing slope carried out just days before the event. As a result, the programme for January 7th has been confirmed: the floodlights will illuminate the Canalone Miramonti for the two runs scheduled at 18.00 and 21.00.

Very cold temperatures are expected in the Brenta Dolomites over the coming days, although snowfall cannot be ruled out. Despite the challenging weather conditions that have characterised the early part of the winter season, the team led by Track Director Adriano Alimonta has succeeded in building a compact and solid snow base, which will be further strengthened in the days ahead.

“High temperatures and rainfall in recent weeks have certainly made our work more demanding, but we are on track to deliver a 3Tre with a high technical level and strong visual impact,” said Alimonta. “Very cold temperatures are forecast for the coming days, along with the possibility of snowfall, which will inevitably require additional work. We are scheduled to inject water into the course on Wednesday, December 31st; the remaining preparations will then depend on weather conditions over the course of next week.”

The 3Tre race on January 7th will also mark two significant milestones: the twentieth anniversary of the last Italian victory, claimed in December 2005 by Giorgio Rocca, and the thirtieth anniversary of Alberto Tomba’s third and final triumph on the Canalone Miramonti, achieved in December 1995.

This long wait could reignite the pride of the Italian team, led by Alex Vinatzer and Tommaso Sala. The field will also feature many of the sport’s biggest names, including past winners in Madonna di Campiglio such as Kristoffersen, Yule and Schwarz, as well as the defending champion, Bulgaria’s Albert Popov. Also on the start list will be several athletes still chasing their first Maglia Fulmine, including Noël, Feller, Meillard, Braathen Pinheiro, Haugan and McGrath.