Madonna di Campiglio (Trentino, Northern Italy) is ready to welcome the second slalom of the 2021/22 Audi FIS Ski World Cup (Val d'Isère hosted the first one last Sunday). Still, the 68th 3Tre already represents a key race for the Olympic season of the Italian National Team.

On Wednesday, December 22nd, seven athletes of the Italian Team will take part in the Madonna classic (first run: 17.45, second run: 20.45 CET), of which six are basically locks: Alex Vinatzer, Giuliano Razzoli, Stefano Gross, Manfred Moelgg, Tommaso Sala and Simon Maurberger. The Italian team's seventh member will be selected after the FIS Alpine Ski Europa Cup slalom in Pozza di Fassa. 

Under the guidance of Technical Director Roberto Lorenzi, on the evening of Monday, December 13th, Vinatzer, Razzoli, Gross, Moelgg, Sala and Maurberger took the chance to test the Canalone Miramonti under the spotlights to analyze all the challenges of the terrain. "The snowpack is uniform, the bumps are accentuated, but I'm expecting a more icy slope for race day", commented Alex Vinatzer, third-placed last year in Madonna.

After the disappointment of Val d'Isère, where he made a mistake at the last gate, the Italian youngster looks for revenge in his home race, hoping to take advantage of his favorite conditions. "Skiing at night enhances my skills, the view is excellent, and I have so much fun".

Generally, the Azzurri seem to enjoy the Canalone Miramonti's spotlights: their goal is to give all Madonna's fans an immense joy 16 years after the last Italian triumph at 3Tre by Giorgio Rocca in December 2005. "I prefer skiing at night than during the day: you can see better and there is no risk of flat light when the weather is not the best," explained Stefano Gross, the expert slalom skier from Val di Fassa who finished third in Campiglio in 2016.

Fellow veteran Manfred Moelgg focused on the work of the Slope Director Adriano Alimonta and his staff, who are working to refine the Canalone Miramonti, which already looks in excellent condition one week before the big night in Campiglio. "There is plenty of snow, but the hill has been prepared in an excellent way, as usual. The base is still a bit soft, but it will be treated with water. It didn't go well in Val d'Isère, but I'm looking forward to Madonna, and I can't wait to hear our fans' support".

"The guys haven't skied at night since last season, so it was important for us to come to Campiglio and see what changed on the slope just a few days before the race" commented technical director Lorenzi. - "In Madonna the public makes the difference, there is a spectacular atmosphere, but the Canalone Miramonti gives nothing for free: the fastest will be in front, and we hope to be there too".

The return of the public on the Canalone Miramonti is the major news of the 3Tre 2021: over than 3000 tickets are available exclusively online on the website www.3trecampiglio.it.

Access will be allowed only to holders of a COVID-certificate (so-called Super Green Pass), proving they have either completed a vaccination cycle or have healed from COVID-19 within the previous 6 months. Children under 12 years of age are exempt from presenting the Super Green Pass.