Ski star Mikaela Shiffrin is on course for victory in Sölden, but then makes a mistake in the second run. Lara Gut-Behrami creates emotions even before the race. Lena Dürr surprises with a top ten place.
US dominator Mikaela Shiffrin missed out on victory at the start of the alpine ski season. The 29-year-old fell from first to fifth place in the second round of the giant slalom in Sölden. The Italian Federica Brignone triumphed. Lena Dürr was the best German and finished in a good tenth place.
The Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami caused an emotional moment before the race on the Rettenbachferner. Last winter’s overall World Cup winner decided not to start at short notice because she didn’t feel 100 percent ready. It was a “hard decision,” she said through tears.
Shiffrin missed her 98th World Cup success due to a botched second run. Brignone won in front of almost 16,000 spectators ahead of New Zealand’s Alice Robinson and Austria’s Julia Scheib, who fought her way onto the podium from 14th place.
Gut-Behrami cannot overcome himself
Along with Shiffrin, Gut-Behrami was considered the favorite to win. The 33-year-old explained that she loves this slope, on which she has already won three times in her career. And yet she withdrew shortly before the race. “You can’t start if you can’t overcome yourself,” said Gut-Behrami. During the inspection she realized that she wasn’t mentally ready. She would lack self-confidence and security.
The risk of possibly getting injured was ultimately too great for her. Gut-Behrami said she is now hoping to start at the next giant slalom in Killington at the end of November. According to her own statement, the experienced athlete recently had a “difficult month” in which she suffered from flu and knee problems. Last winter she won the overall World Cup as well as the discipline classifications in giant slalom and super-G.
Dürr, who is the great German hope, especially in slalom, surprised with her top ten place. It was a “perfect start,” said the 33-year-old. She is “super happy”. Teammate Fabiana Dorigo scored her first World Cup points in 24th place.
Source: Stern
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