Andorra Ski Team Leaves Azerbaijan Early Over Iranian Drone Strikes

Andorra's seven-member ski mountaineering team, including Pas Grau Internacional staff, departed Baku early Friday morning on Foreign Affairs Ministry advice amid regional security concerns from Iranian drone strikes, skipping Sunday's vertical race at Shahdag.

The Andorran Mountaineering Federation (FAM) delegation left at 4:40 local time (1:40 Andorra time) on a flight to Frankfurt, followed by a connection to Barcelona, with arrival expected Saturday around 13:10. The group had already reached Frankfurt by Friday, the journey proceeding without incident. This decision advanced their original Sunday return after completing Thursday's mixed relay and Friday's individual races.

The move followed Iranian drone attacks on Azerbaijan, including one strike at Nakhchivan region's airport and another near a school, causing injuries and material damage. Azerbaijani authorities described the targets as energy infrastructure near the southwest border with Iran, roughly 450km from Shahdag in the northeast near Russia. Officials confirmed no impact on Shahdag, Baku airport, or the championships.

FAM emphasized all members remained safe at all times, with no exposure to risk given the distance from incidents. The precautionary step aligned with recommendations from the Foreign Affairs and Sports Ministries, ISMF, organizers, and consultations with other nations. Spain and several European teams took similar measures. Minister Imma Tor had met Azerbaijan's ambassador Ramiz Hasanov, who noted the attacks' remoteness.

The team performed strongly before departing. In Friday's individual races, Oriol Olm led Andorrans at 17th (1:28:33.2) among men, followed by Max Palmitjavila (22nd, 1:32:58.1) and Marc Casanovas (25th, 1:35:13.8). The men's course involved three ascents and descents above 2,000m with over 1,500m positive gain; the women's about 1,200m. Lea Ancion placed 18th (1:52:44.5) in the women's event.

On Thursday, Ancion and Palmitjavila secured sixth in the mixed relay (42:13.5) out of 11 teams, holding off the Czech pair of Eva Matejovicova and Josef Nakladal (seventh) but trailing Swiss winners Marianne Fatton and Thomas Bussard (35:55) by 6:18.5. Italy (Alba De Silvestro, Michele Boscacci) earned silver, Germany (Tatjana Paller, Finn Hösch) bronze.

FAM thanked Pas Grau Internacional for logistical support and the ministries for assistance, committing to updates solely through official channels.