Bansko to host final PGS World Cup races prior to the Olympics

Athletes of the Alpine Snowboard World Cup tour will compete in the final two parallel giant slalom events prior to the upcoming Olympic Winter Games this weekend in Bulgaria with Bansko hosting back-to-back events again following its successful debut as World Cup host last year.

It's the last form check under competition conditions before all national teams will enter their final training camps prior to PyeongChang 2018.

However, both PGS races will also give the circuit a line on how the race for the crystal globes could come to an end this season.

With only two more parallel giant slaloms being staged subsequently to the pinnacle event of the last four years, the Bansko double World Cup could bring a preliminary title decision.

Especially in the women's ranking where Ester Ledecka (CZE) is currently sitting on the top spot with 4,000 points and an huge advantage on her strongest pursuer Ramona Hofmeister (GER; 2,510).

Austria's Julia Dujmovits (2,210) and Sabine Schoeffmann (2,150) as well as Selina Joerg (GER; 2,120) are also within reach.

However, if the chasing quartet is not able to score some vital points in Bulgaria, Ledecka – so far unbeaten in all of her four season's PGS starts – could be able to secure here career's second discipline title and make a giant stride towards a possible Alpine Snowboard Overall World Cup title three-peat.

On the men's side of things, Switzerland's Nevin Galmarini has also been able to break away from the rest of the field with so far accumulated 3,010 points.

However veteran racers like Roland Fischnaller (ITA; 2,290), Andrey Sobolev (RUS; 2,076), two-time 2017 World Champion Andreas Prommegger (AUT; 1,980) as well as Alexander Payer (AUT; 1,960) won't back down in the title race.

In addition, local favourite Radoslav Yankov (BUL), who placed first and second in his last year's home soil double World Cup stop, is also back in the title battle (1,880) thanks to his second rank finish in Rogla last weekend.

The finals of the first parallel giant slalom in Bansko will take place on Friday at 11:30 CET with the finals of the second event slated for Sunday 13:00 CET.

The latest schedule is available .

Several TV stations are up to broadcast both races live. The latest list of Live TV broadcasters can be found here.