The World Cup races in Zermatt/Cervinia on 29/30 October and 5/6 November 2022 will be the season opener for speed athletes.
The first cross-border races in the history of the Ski World Cup will be held on the “Gran Becca” course. The run, which starts on Gobba di Rollin above Zermatt in Switzerland and finishes in Laghi Cime Bianche above Cervinia in Italy, stretches over four kilometres and almost 1,000 metres in altitude.
The bib draw and prize giving will take place on Friday and Saturday evening in Zermatt and Cervinia. A “World Cup atmosphere” will be created in both places, including a “World Cup village”. The exact details are still in planning.
– 28/29.10.2022: Live in Zermatt/large screen broadcast in Cervinia
– 4/5.11.2022: Live in Cervinia/large screen broadcast in Zermatt
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.