FIS Approves Àliga Course for 2026 Andorra Women's World Cup; Cornella Sets Olympic Record

The International Ski Federation (FIS) has approved the Àliga course at El Tarter for the women's downhill and super-G events at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Andorra 2026, scheduled for February 27, 28, and March 1. A technical snow inspection verified ideal density and granulometry in four sections of the track, satisfying all safety and quality requirements, said technical snow director Nico Fornes.

Race director Santi López oversaw the check alongside track manager Oriol Cusidó, machine head Robert Lindsey, and general secretary Marc Mitjana, with FIS delegate Jordi Pujol present. Recent steady snowfall has aided preparations, including surface compaction by grooming equipment and installation of safety nets along the entire route. National teams from France, the United States, Italy, Switzerland, and Andorra—featuring skier Jordina Caminal—will start training on the course next week at Grandvalira, following their Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics schedules.

In Olympic news from those Games, Andorran skier Xavier Cornella delivered Andorra's best-ever men's slalom result, finishing 21st in Bormio with a combined time of 2:01.96, 8.35 seconds behind gold medalist Loïc Meillard of Switzerland (1:53.61). Silver went to Austria's Fabio Gstrein (1:53.96) and bronze to Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen (1:54.74).

The first run began at 10:00 under heavy snow and demanding conditions, with 49 of 95 starters recording DNFs—including Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro, France's Paco Rassat and Leo Anguenot, Austria's Manuel Feller, Italy's Alex Vinatzer, and Belgium's Sam Maes. Starting as bib 44, Cornella posted 1:03.01 to place provisionally 24th or 25th, opting for a clean line over speed on the steep initial wall and flatter rollers despite time losses to early leader Atle Lie McGrath.

All first-run finishers advanced to the 13:30 second run, shown live on Eurosport 1 and RTVA. Cornella, starting seventh in reverse order, clocked 58.95 to lead provisionally as McGrath and France's Clément Noël failed to finish. This lifted him to 21st overall, eclipsing Roger Vidosa's 27th from Turin 2006. Spain's Quim Salarich ended 19th.

Ahead of the race, Cornella had trained on a nearby slope with Austria's team, building form and FIS points this season. He called representing Andorra an "extra dose of nerves" but approached it with confidence and motivation to perform at his best. After Joan Verdú's 10th in giant slalom days earlier, Cornella found the result inspiring. Post-race, he rated his satisfaction "a 15 out of 10," thrilled by the leader's chair stint and historic mark. "It's a day I couldn't have dreamed of," he said, noting better conditions in the second run allowed him to push harder.