World Cup in Saalbach: Ski team misses parallel medal: “Aaah, I’m sorry”

Lena Dürr struggled, Linus Straßer quickly discharged the first disappointment. The German ski team missed a medal at the start of the alpine world championships in Austria and may now be tough in front of them. “Aaah, I’m sorry and it annoys me,” said Dürr after a little mistake who led to the quarter-finals in the parallel team event. Straßer comfortably put his teammate on his shoulder – he did not want to take the confidence at the beginning of the World Cup.

First gold goes to Italy surprisingly

“It is part of it, little things make the difference,” said the 32-year-old after the narrow defeat against Switzerland. He was not frustrated, said Straßer almost defiantly. The whole team showed a “good performance” that it was a “super warm-up event for spectators and athletes”.

Around 15,000 spectators had come to the first of a total of eleven World Cup competitions in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. In the huge grandstands, they also did not want to let the mood of the surprising failure of Austria’s ski team spoil them in the quarter-finals. At the opening ceremony, which was integrated into the race, a band played the Wolfgang-Ambros classic “Schifoan”, a boy disguised as a Mozart ran through the target area.

In the final, the Italians surprisingly defeated the favorites from Switzerland. Bronze went to Sweden, who defeated the defending champion USA in the race for third place.

Three years ago in the Olympic final

The Germans had gone into the team competition with good memories. In 2021 they had won the World Cup bronze, at the Olympic Games in Beijing 2022 silver. However, they had to do without Emma Aicher, who was involved in both successes, at the start of the title fights on the Zwölferkogel.

The 21-year-old was missing due to a break that she had suffered at the end of November. In the speed disciplines, starting with the Super-G on Thursday, it should start. In the first departure training, she drove the fourth best time.

Dürr in the quarter -finals much slower

In addition to Straßer and Dürr, the now greatest hopes in the final slaloms, World Cup debutante Fabiana Dorigo and Fabian Gratz also started in the team event. After a sovereign 4-0 at the start of Slovenia, the Germans fought a gripping duel with Switzerland.

Dürr won against Delphine Darbellay, but was more than half a second slower than in the round of 16. With this she is “absolutely not satisfied,” said the 33-year-old, who has so far ensured the only German World Cup podium positions with two thirds and a second place this winter.

Famoser Tumler ensures defeat of the DSV quartet

At 2-1 for Germany, Straßer lost to Thomas Tumler. Since it was 2-2 after a total of four pairings, the addition decided from the best time of a woman and a man. Here the Swiss – because of the Dürr -Patzer and a Famosen trip from Tumler – were ultimately 0.27 seconds ahead.

World Association President Johan Eliasch had previously officially opened the World Cup. Ex-Skistar Felix Neureuther expected “huge two weeks” with a view to the enthusiasm for alpine sport in Austria.