Marco Odermatt lashes out at 'idiotic' World Cup schedule

Having returned from the circuit's early-season North America swing on Monday, Odermatt is among the favourites for Saturday's giant slalom in the French resort of Val d'Isere before five races in five days from Thursday in Italy.

The 25-year-old Swiss, who won last season's overall World Cup title, is due to take part in two official training runs on Tuesday and Wednesday, before Thursday's downhill in Val Gardena - rescheduled after the Beaver Creek race was cancelled - before a super-G and a second downhill in the same setting.

The following two days will see him race back-to-back giant slaloms in Alta Badia, Italy.

"It's a hell of a programme, especially after three weeks in North America," Odermatt said.

"I'm trying to keep as much energy as possible. I find it totally idiotic on the part of FIS (International Ski Federation). Scheduling such a programme of races is not thinking about safety.

"However, there is a safety committee! It's obviously not ideal."

The reigning Olympic giant slalom gold medallist was on top form in North America, with a super-G victory and a third place in the downhill in Lake Louise, Canada, before two second places in the downhill and super-G in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Odermatt is on a run of 10 consecutive podium finishes and heads up the overall World Cup standings by 40 points from Norway's Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who has chosen to skip Val d'Isere.