World Cup in Saalbach-Hinterglemm
Skiing and tears: German drama in the team combination
The first German medal at the Alpine Ski World Cup is within reach – then Lena Dürr makes a serious mistake. The disappointment is huge. But there are still chances of precious metal.
The completely frustrated Lena Dürr only threw one of her ski rocks through the target area in a high arc and later shed a few tears. She was “really disappointed,” said the German ski racer after the drama in the team combination. The first medal for the German Ski Association at the World Cup in Saalbach -Hinterglemm was within reach – before Dürr failed in the decisive slalom. So it was only 17th place for Dürr and their strong teammate Emma Aicher. Gold secured US star Mikaela Shiffrin with downhill world champion Breezy Johnson.
“If you pull someone else in, it hurts twice,” said Dürr. She had hoped to be able to look forward to the Aicher at the finish at the finish. Instead, they had to suffer together. “That happens. It is not bad,” said Aicher, who had previously hugged and comforted her colleague twelve years older. In the slalom on Saturday she “wanted to turn the sheet”, Dürr announced. It will be a last German medal opportunities in the title fights in Austria. In 2023 in Méribel, Dürr had won World Cup bronze. Now she has to digest a damper first.
Aicher presents with a strong departure
Aicher and Dürr had gone with great hopes in the World Cup premiere of the team combination. The 21-year-old Aicher had caused a sensation at the Zwölferkogel with her sixth places in the Super-G and beforehand. Dürr, who took care of the only German World Cup podium this winter, had painted a fingernail black-red-gold on Monday evening.
And Aicher presented well: In the morning departure, she drove the second fastest time. It was only 0.23 seconds behind the American Lauren Macuga. Dürr went with this deficit in the subsequent gate run, in which she led for a long time, but then slipped away shortly before the finish and almost failed. The 33-year-old saved himself, but then had more than four seconds behind. No gold – and in the end not even silver or bronze.
Hilzinger also mistakes in the slalom
Instead, second place went to the Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami and her compatriot Wendy Holdener, who was driving in the slalom Famos. Third became Super-G world champion Stephanie Venier and Katharina troops from Austria. Kira Weidle-Winkelmann had led the second German duo and took a strong fifth place on the departure, but her teammate Jessica Hilzinger then left the slalom.
It was still a “really cool event”, said Dürr. The mini team competition was eagerly awaited-and offered plenty of spectacle. For many of the drivers, he was a real thrill.
Disappointing ending for “turtle”
US exception athlete Shiffrin cheered over gold at her first appearance at this World Cup. A good two months ago, she had suffered a stab wound in the abdomen in a fall in Killington, which had to be operated on. It is therefore not mentally ready for the giant slalom this Thursday, she said. It was for the team combination – and how.
Returner Lindsey Vonn, who would have loved to go with Shiffrin, and took 16th place with AJ Hurt. It “drove like a turtle,” said the former speed queen in ORF self-critically. Vonn, whose big goal is only the 2026 Olympic Games anyway, was able to laugh again. Lena Dürr was more difficult.
dpa
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
