ITALIAN skiing champion Alberto Tomba said yesterday hem might have to wait until next year before making his return to World Cup racing.

"The most important thing is to be ready for the world championships in February," Tomba was quoted as saying in the Turin sports daily Tuttosport.

"Maybe I won't make it in time for Campiglio on December 17th, maybe I'll have to leave it until Kranjska Gora on January 5th and 6th. We'll have to wait and see.

"The Campiglio slalom is the shortest, so maybe I'll be there. I'll decide a week before the race."