Bryce Bennett (USA) ahead of Otmar Striedinger (Austria) and Niels Hintermann (Sui) – if you had bet on this podium in the first downhill classic of this ski season in Val Gardena, you would have earned a golden nose.
On Saturday, the men from the second row on the Saslong hit the big hour, the newcomers had to queue up, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (Nor) even drove into the garage before the finish line. “That’s the way sport is – unpredictable,” said the top favorite, who shone in training and won the Super-G.
Even if Vincent Kriechmayr (14th) from Gramastetten and Daniel Hemetsberger (21st) from Nussdorf landed in the defeated field, it was – at least in the material sector – a successful race day for Upper Austria. The Innviertel ski company Fischer, which had not received a medal at the Alpine World Championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo in 2021, reported back impressively. Leo Mussi is Bennett’s serviceman and can claim the unofficial title of “Mister Val Gardena” for himself.
For the eighth time, the South Tyrolean winner slat groomed in Val Gardena. Mussi set the course four times for Kristian Ghedina (Ita), three times for Steven Nyman (USA) and now for Bennett, who celebrated his first World Cup triumph with a strong sip from the champagne bottle.
“Leo works so hard for me, he’s my European father. His mom cooks pasta for me,” the US champion ennobled the man from the fishing team. Bennett and Val Gardena, that’s a love affair. In 2018 and 2020, the now 29-year-old was already quite close to the podium in fourth place, but he did not expect a victory even in his wildest dreams.
“I was on the slow side all season. It was a surprise,” said Bennett, who was 26th (Lake Louise) and 22nd (Beaver Creek) and didn’t even finish in the top 20 on the overseas descents.
“Feeling of BMX riding”
In Val Gardena the tide turned, neither the camel hump nor the rough Ciaslat (with demanding curves and bumps) could throw Bennett off course. “My whole life has been about who can jump down the stupidest of things. The feeling you need here comes from BMX riding,” explained the 2.01-meter man from California.
Second-placed Striedinger, who like Kriechmayr entered the race with number 1 in his second world title, was only 14 hundredths apart from his first World Cup success. “I’ve been very close a few times now, but I won’t complain,” said the Carinthian, who loves Salomon. This time maybe with the anger in my stomach.
The non-nomination for the Super-G on Friday really worried the Carinthian. If he stays constant, the coaches cannot overlook him.
Sofia Goggia is the hunted
Mirjam Puchner has also reported back to the top of the world after a period of suffering. Yesterday’s Super-G in Val d ?? Isere was to be forgotten with 21st place, but she had already achieved third place in the downhill this winter. In total, that is more podium places this year than in all previous years (two wins). In 2016, Puchner’s star rose with the downhill victory in St. Moritz, in the Swiss luxury ski resort her career almost came to an end a year later after a training fall on February 8, 2017. A broken tibia and fibula threw the Salzburg woman off track.
Now Puchner is rewarded for her tireless work. “I already felt very good during the preparation and that way I gained my self-confidence for the races.” Now all that’s left is to find a recipe against Sofia Goggia’s dominance.
“At some point we’ll get it,” said Puchner of the Italian who celebrated her fourth and fifth victories of the season in Val d ?? Isere with the double from downhill and super-G. “I’m over the moon. At the moment I can’t complain about anything,” said Speed Queen Sofia. In the overall World Cup, Goggia leads 65 points ahead of Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), who can turn the tables in the two giant slalom in Courchevel (tomorrow and on Wednesday).
Patrick Feurstein has won two European Cup races, but the breakthrough in the World Cup was a long time coming. At the giant slalom in Alta Badia, the 25-year-old from Vorarlberg managed a dream run, with which he catapulted himself from 27th to fourth place. For Feurstein this is a small pre-Christmas miracle, as he missed the entire 2020/21 season due to chronic headaches as a result of an inflammation of the nerves.
“It’s so beautiful, I can’t believe it. I’m so happy to be back,” said Feurstein, who trains in the technology group of Ferdinand Hirscher, the father of ex-star Marcel Hirscher.
Now the fruits of the labor are being harvested. Hopefully free of complaints. (Alex)
More about Val Gardena winner Bryce Bennett in the “People” section page 4
Source: Nachrichten
