The Soldeu - El Tarter sectors will host the last stop of the European circuit with more than 200 racers from 34 countries competing from 14 to 20 March
The action returns to the iconic Avet and Àliga courses, the last event before the vote for the venue of the 2027 World Championships and the 2023 World Cup Finals
4th Europa Cup Finals in Grandvalira. It has been three years since top competition alpine skiing was held on the Avet and Àliga courses of Soldeu - El Tarter, when the overwhelming success of the 2019 World Cup Finals took place. The European circuit is returning and arrives at its last stop for the season. For Andorra it is the last event before the vote for the venue of the 2027 World Championships.
A total of 7 days, 8 events, and more than 200 racers will represent a total of 34 countries. More excitement and expectations than ever on the continental circuit with regards to the country's skiers, and the great form that athletes from neighbouring countries are in.
The Andorran athletes expected to participate are:
- Tuesday 15: Axel Esteve and Alex Rius will take part in the slalom.
- Wednesday 16: Joan Verdú, Axel Esteve, and Bartumeu Gabriel will take part in the giant slalom and Cande Moreno, Jordina Caminal, and Jessica Nuñez in the downhill.
- Thursday 17: Cande Moreno, Jordina Caminal, and Jessica Nuñez will race in the super-G.
- Friday 18: Joan Verdú and Pere Cornella will compete in the super-G.
- Saturday 19: Carla Mijares and Iria Medina will take part in the giant slalom.
- Sunday 20: Carla Mijares and Iria Media will compete in the slalom and Pere Cornella in the downhill.
Joan Verdú competes as winner in the general classification of the giant slalom and with a sixth position in the overall classification of the Europa Cup.
Looking ahead to the Finals next week, the winners of the slalom, super-G, and men's downhill disciplines remain to be decided. And as far as the women's events are concerned, only the downhill has been settled.
The two imposing Avet and Àliga courses will be the competition venues in the fight for the European title. The first of them will hold the slalom and giant slalom events. The start of the giant slalom is located in Pla d'Espiolets, at 2,266 m, with a length of 1,242 m, while the slalom starts a few meters further down at 2,047 m. The finish of both sections is located at the foot of the entry to Soldeu, at an altitude of 1,847 m. The iconic Àliga course will hold the super-G and downhill races. The start of the super-G is at 2,325 m with a length of 2,186 m, while the downhill will have its starting point at 2,476 m and has a length of 2,753 m. The finish line is at an altitude of 1,725 m, at the foot of El Tarter. “The technical and logistical demands of keeping two courses running in parallel and in perfect condition is once again an organizational challenge,” said Hildago, head of the Europa Cup Finals.
The Men's and Women's Alpine Skiing Europa Cup Finals, which will take place from 14 to 20 March, were officially presented this morning. There were speeches by the mayor of Canillo, Francesc Camp; the Minister of Tourism and Telecommunications, Jordi Torres; the president of the FAE, Josep Pintat; the Director of Corporate Communication, Marketing, and New Channels of Crèdit Andorrà, Joan R. Mas; and the General Director of Grandvalira-ENSISA, David Hidalgo.
The mayor of Canillo remarked on the fact of returning to the alpine skiing elite after three years, while the Minister, Jordi Torres, recalled that Andorra Turisme has supported ski competitions since 2012 and reaffirmed the commitment of the Government of Andorra to the 2023 World Cup Finals and to the candidacy for the 2027 World Championships.
On behalf of the FAE, Pintat thanked “the work of the organizing team to help our athletes, and position the snows of Andorra as one of the best destinations in the world.”
In turn, the Director of Corporate Communications, Marketing, and New Channels at Crèdit Andorrà, Joan R. Mas, underlined that “the sponsorship consolidates our commitment to the national sport year after year”, and added that “due to its size, this event contributes to placing Andorra on the map of international destinations.”
More than enough staff to host the event with every guarantee
The organizational team for the event consists of about 350 people. Some 150 of them are Grandvalira workers and another 200 are external volunteers, of which 142 are on the course.
In order to host an international event of this size, Grandvalira has the support of more than 70 collaborating companies and entities, including the sponsors Andorra Turisme, Crèdit Andorrà, Júlia, the FAE, and the Comú de Canillo.