ÖSV runners missed the podium in the Soldeu slalom

In the absence of the injured stars Mikaela Shiffrin, Petra Vlhova and Wendy Holdener, Katharina Troupe carved to eighth place (+1.42 seconds) in Soldeu on Sunday, while Katharina Liensberger came ninth (+1.59). The Swede Anna Swenn Larsson successfully defended her half-time lead ahead of the Croatian talent Zrinka Ljutic (+0.35) and the American Paula Moltzan (+0.83).

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For the first time since 2011, neither Shiffrin nor Vlhova had taken part in a slalom. Liensberger was already the most decorated athlete on the slopes in the Grandvalira ski area near the village of Soldeu as a three-time World Cup winner. It was only the Vorarlberg woman who replaced Chiara Pogneaux, who started with number one in the second round. However, the 2021 world champion did not move forward from ninth place at halftime.

“It was a little cramped”

Troop went into the lunch break in sixth place, three tenths behind third place, but then missed the last risk on the steep slope. The only 24th running time was not enough to be on the podium a second time this season after Courchevel. In the ORF interview, Troupe missed “the merciless letting go” and “the finishing”. “The basic speed is right, there’s still a little bit missing, then I’ll be at the front.” Katharina Huber (16th) had already lost a top position in the first run. “I wanted too much. The knuckles got heavy, it was a little cramped.”

Katharina Gallhuber took over in the first round. The Lower Austrian is still waiting for a top result in 2024 and, like Franziska Gritsch (39th/+3.47), missed the points for the third time in a row. A year ago, the Tyrolean, who now works under a private trainer, was regularly in the top ten. Lisa Hörhager (failure) and Marie-Therese Sporer (42nd/+3.69) were also unable to show a second run.

2 podiums in 18 races

In 18 technical races, the Austrians achieved two podium places thanks to Katharina Troupe and Katharina Liensberger, who each came third. The trend in slalom is alarming. Since Christmas, no one has made it into the top five in five races in sometimes completely different conditions – now even though the top stars were missing in Andorra.

Shiffrin, who is working on her return to Innsbruck after her fall in Cortina, can hardly take the slalom ball – it would be the eighth in her flagship discipline. The only remaining pursuer, Lena Dürr, is currently in top form. In the remaining two slaloms, the sixth-placed German from Germany would have to catch up with Shiffrin by 188 points.