In a blow to Italy’s powerhouse alpine ski team, world-class giant slalom specialist Marta Bassino has been ruled out of the 2025/26 FIS Alpine World Cup season opener in Sölden this weekend, officials confirmed Tuesday. The 29-year-old Cuneo native, a two-time Olympic medalist and former GS Crystal Globe winner, cited a nagging knee injury as the reason for her withdrawal, dashing hopes of another triumphant start on the Rettenbach Glacier.
Bassino, who electrified the circuit with a dominant victory in Sölden back in 2020—leading an Italian 1-2 finish with teammate Federica Brignone—arrived in Austria earlier this week appearing fully prepared. Pre-race buzz had positioned her as a top favorite, especially with Brignone sidelined by her own ongoing rehabilitation from a summer training mishap. “Marta was our anchor for the opener,” said Italian team coach Gianluca Rulfi in a statement. “She’s gutted, but this is about protecting her for the long haul, particularly with the Milano Cortina Olympics looming in February.”
The injury, described as a minor ligament strain sustained during a high-altitude training camp in Chile last month, flared up during final preparations on Monday. Bassino underwent precautionary scans in Innsbruck, which revealed inflammation that could risk a more serious tear if she pushed through the demanding GS course. “I’ve been building momentum all summer, and Sölden holds such special memories for me,” Bassino said in a brief social media post. “But forcing it now isn’t smart. I’ll be back stronger—see you in Levi or Killington.”
Her absence leaves a void in a stacked Italian lineup that still boasts nine entries for Saturday’s women’s giant slalom, captained by downhill ace Sofia Goggia in her GS return. Joining Goggia are rising talents like Asja Zenere, Lara Della Mea, and Giorgia Collomb, with Ilaria Ghisalberti and Elisa Platino rounding out a squad hungry to defend national pride. Italy has etched its name on the Sölden trophy four times in the event’s history, including Bassino’s iconic 2020 win and Brignone’s back-to-back triumphs in 2015 and 2024.
The Sölden opener, a rite of passage for the World Cup since 2000, kicks off the women’s calendar on October 25 with the GS first run at 9:45 a.m. CET, followed by the second at 1:00 p.m. Weather forecasts predict crisp conditions on the glacier, a far cry from the rain-soaked chaos that plagued Bassino’s ill-fated 2018 debut here. Defending overall champion Mikaela Shiffrin enters as the prohibitive favorite, fresh off a dominant U.S. Grand Prix, but eyes will also be on New Zealand’s Alice Robinson—herself a 2019 Sölden sensation—and Swiss powerhouse Lara Gut-Behrami, who notched her third win here in 2023.
Bassino’s setback echoes a challenging few years marked by resilience. After clinching the 2020/21 GS title with four victories, she battled back from a 2022 ACL tear to snag combined silver and GS bronze at the Beijing Olympics. This season’s early exit is a reminder of the sport’s unforgiving toll, but her track record—six World Cup GS wins, including podiums in five disciplines—suggests a swift rebound. “Marta’s the heart of our GS program,” Rulfi added. “We’ll rally around the team this weekend and get her firing on all cylinders soon.”
As the peloton assembles under the Tyrolean peaks, Sölden promises high drama without one of its brightest stars. For Bassino, the focus shifts to recovery and a potential return in early November’s Levi slalom, where unfinished business awaits.
