The charm of Kitzbühel, the spectacle of the Streif, more than just a competition: year after year, the Hahnenkamm races are the highlight of the ski calendar. The first race took place in 1931 in Gamsstadt, and in 1967 the competition was included in the Alpine Ski World Cup circuit becoming one of the most relevant of the ski season.
No other World Cup venue is so prestigious, no other slope so legendary. The Streif descent is the "Monte Carlo" of skiing, no other race attracts so much international attention surrounded by charm and legend. Once again this year, from 21 to 27 January, around 100,000 fans are warming up to support their heroes, and once again, in Kitzbühel the magic of skiing takes to the slopes together with the best athletes.
Max Franz at Hahnenkamm races
Sure, I've known the myth since I was a kid. I also took part in the children's race once, we even skied down the descent. It was nice - and that's when the desire to compete here started, - says Max Franz, during his first time on the slopes of Kitzbühel 2012.
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The Technogym ambassador has already experienced ups and downs on Streif and he knows how spectacular and brutal the track can be at the same time. In 2014, he made the podium in Super-G, two years later on the same track he had a bad injury in a downhill fall. This year Franz arrives in Gamsstadt as one of the big favourites having already gotten two victories in the season, one in the downhill and one in the super-G.
The charm of the Streif according to Marcel Hirscher
In both disciplines Max Franz is one of the papabili to victory together with Marcel Hirscher, but in slalom. The goal of racing on the Ganslernhang traditionally marks the end of the Hahnenkamm weekend. The double Olympic champion has already won twice in Kitzbühel.
In 2013 the first Gams on the Gansler track, my 100th World Cup race. It was a very important thing for me, I didn't think it had really happened for a long time.
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Hirscher has already won everything there is to win. When he talks about the Hahnenkamm races, his eyes also shine a little brighter: "The emotion is as strong as the charm of this track. The atmosphere, the many ski fans, the organisation, the sports competition...and the tension before a race at home".
The Streif is one of the most challenging and spectacular downhill runs in the world. You can't escape this fascination, the Streif simply has its magic.
Unlike previous years, this year will not face the Super-G. The motto is to concentrate completely on its main disciplines: slalom and giant slalom.