Mixed feelings prevailed among Italian ski fans yesterday after the Super-G in Cortina d??Ampezzo:
On the one hand, the joy of Elena Curtoni, who celebrated the second World Cup victory of her career in front of Styrian Tamara Tippler (+0.09 seconds) and Swiss Michelle Gisin (+0.24).
On the other hand, the heavy fall of Sofia Goggia: The speed dominator, who the day before had won the descent shortened by the wind in front of Romana Siebenhofer, tore her legs apart in a slip shortly before the third split time before the 29th year-old rolled over. Goggia, who even drove to the finish herself after a short breather, limped out of the finish area a little later.
After examinations in a hospital in Milan, the Italian association initially announced that she had suffered trauma to her left knee. Italian media reported that the fibula head and the anterior cruciate ligament got something. Goggia will start physiotherapy today to make her dream of the Olympics come true. If she were fully fit, she would be the gold favorite there in the fast disciplines.
Tippler’s first podium of the season
As 26th downhill with the Pista Tofana, Tippler still had a score to settle. “That really pissed me off,” said the 30-year-old, who was relieved after second place in the Super-G – especially so close to the Olympic Games.
“It’s great that I showed at the right time, I’m there too. I seem to function under stress,” said Tippler after her first podium of the season. The next best Austrian was Mirjam Puchner in tenth (+0.66). “There were simply mistakes, especially in a flat section. You can’t afford that. It’s not enough for the front at the moment,” said the Salzburg native.
Siebenhofer went into her last race before the Winter Games after the five-minute race break due to Goggia’s fall. The day’s second place could not be satisfied with 15th place (+0.85): “The Super-G remains the problem discipline in some form. It doesn’t want to work quite as well as in the downhill.”
Hütter’s comeback after Corona
The 23-year-old Nadine Fest (+1.16) gave another talent test as 17th. Cornelia Hütter was 1.39 seconds behind in the first race after her coronavirus infection and finished in 20th place. “It was a difficult time that I had. I still lack the strength. But I’m glad that I survived the Corona-Sch…” said Hütter. World Champion Lara Gut-Behrami from Switzerland, who was 13th, had nothing to do with the decision, as did World Cup leader Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) in 16th place. Both recently had to sit out due to corona infections. Elisabeth Reisinger from the Mühlviertel was eliminated, as were Christine Scheyer, Ricarda Haaser and Sabrina Maier. Breezy Johnson (USA), who was injured in training, was also thrown off the Tofana.
Race to the Olympics
The giant slalom in Plan de Corones (Ita) will continue tomorrow. It’s the last race for the women’s technicians ahead of the Winter Games, which open on Friday next week. In between, the speed specialists are still in action in Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the weekend with a downhill run (Saturday) and a Super-G (Sunday).
Source: Nachrichten
