Sestriere and the Vialattea ski slopes once again confirm their position at the heart of international skiing. Over the years, the Turin Alps ski area has hosted numerous top-level competitions of outstanding prestige, strengthening its role as a center of excellence in the organization of elite sporting events and establishing itself as a benchmark for athletes, coaches, and ski enthusiasts.
Sestriere now raffirms once again its competitive vocation by hosting a new prestigious international event: the Women’s Alpine Skiing Europa Cup, scheduled for January 9 and 10, 2026. Two giant slalom races are on the program, with the first run at 10:00 a.m. and the second run at 12:30 p.m., featuring the best athletes of the continental circuit, a key stepping stone toward the World Cup.
The competitions will take place on the historic Kandahar Giovanni Alberto Agnelli slope, an iconic course in international skiing. It was on this very slope that, during the past winter season, a three-day Alpine Ski World Cup event was held, delivering unforgettable emotions, with Federica Brignone’s double victory in the giant slaloms and a women’s slalom that went down in history with Mikaela Shiffrin’s 100th World Cup win.
With the competitions scheduled for January 9 and 10, 2026, Sestriere will host the Europa Cup circuit for the sixth time, following the editions of 1997, 2001, 2014, 2016, and 2024. Of particular note is the 2014 edition, which saw a very young Marta Bassino shine with a first and a second place in the two giant slalom races, a prelude to a career at the highest level, as well as Laura Pirovano’s podium finish in the 2016 giant slalom.
The most recent Europa Cup event in Sestriere dates back to January 2024, when two women’s giant slaloms were held, dominated by France’s Doriane Escane. The best Italian skier was Lara Della Mea, who finished third in the second race and fifth in the first.
The event is organized by the Sporting Club Sestrieres, with the patronage of the Piedmont Region and the Municipality of Sestriere, confirming the sporting importance of the event and its ability to enhance the territory through high-level sport.
“A heartfelt thank you goes to the Piedmont Region and the Municipality of Sestriere, who believe in the value of this event. Working in synergy with the local area is a fundamental element for the success of the organization and makes it possible to create events that represent a real driving force for the promotion of sport, skiing, and the entire territory,” said Gualtiero Brasso, head of the Organizing Committee.
