Franz joins Schifferer

Franz has finished on 19 World Cup podiums, including a victory at Val D'Isere's downhill in 2004 and one at St. Anton's super-G in 2000.

The 34-year-old was attempting to return to the World Cup circuit from a devastating injury sustained in the summer of 2005 while training in Portillo, Chile, which forced him to race on a reconstructed leg.

Skiing with titanium plates in his right shin and knee, Franz finished 33rd just outside the World Cup points at Lake Louise's downhill last month.

Franz made his World Cup debut in 1992, finishing 20th at Aspen, Colorado's downhill and earned his first World Cup podium in 1993 at Val Gardena, the site of this weekend's races.

"I made a point of finishing in Val Gardena. It is here that I gained my first podium in 1993, a second place in the downhill" Franz said.

Olympic bronze medallist Schifferer announced his retirement on Wednesday after the 32-year-old had failed to secure a place in Austria's regular World Cup line-up.