Image: APA/Barbara Gindl
The number of participants in particular shows why the alpine combination is becoming obsolete. Whoever finishes in this mixture of Super-G and Slalom has a good chance of a decent result.
In the decision from 2.30 p.m. (ORF 1) only 20 women will start in Méribel. The already manageable total field of 33 participants has shrunk considerably.
In the Super-G, five athletes have said goodbye after failures, eight will not compete in the slalom. Among them Cornelia Hütter, for whom part one of the suit was something like a test run for the Super-G on Wednesday (11 a.m., ORF 1), in which she is one of the favorites.
“The thighs have started to tremble”
The slalom is anything but a darling and therefore dispensable, especially since the 19th place at halftime did not raise any hopes of a medal. In addition, Hütter is by no means in top shape. “My thighs started to tremble, I couldn’t keep the ski on the train. The energy evaporated backwards,” said the Styrian, who was suffering from a cold. “I really thought it would be a little better. It didn’t feel good. I have to use my strength.”
Downhill favorite Sofia Goggia (20th), Tessa Worley (11th), Ilka Stuhec (10th) and Alice Robinson (13th) do not do the slalom either. Incidentally, this also applies to a duo that is in a promising position: Lara Gut-Behrami was second after the Super-G, Ranghild Mowinckel third. Nevertheless, don’t give a whistle.
“I will definitely not count now”
Who can calculate chances for precious metal now? The hunted is Super-G winner Federica Brignone (Ita), who has already done one or the other passable slalom. Normally there is no way around Mikaela Shiffrin, who is 96 hundredths of a second behind.
Then you also have to have the Swiss Michelle Gisin and Wendy Holdener on the list – and also Franziska Gritsch, who can do anything in the slalom.
“I’m definitely not going to do the math now, but try to do a good job again. Then you’ll see what comes out anyway,” said the 25-year-old Tyrolean. Addendum: “Of course, when you’re at the start, you want to take something with you.” Namely gold, silver or bronze. In any case, the chance for a tailor-made World Cup start from the ÖSV point of view is alive.
Source: Nachrichten
