Alpine skiing: Kilde wins the double in Val Gardena

Norway’s outright World Cup winner from the previous season hit a hot streak despite minor mistakes, in which the competition gritted their teeth. For Kilde it was the sixth World Cup victory, the third in Val Gardena after his triumph in the 2018 Downhill and the Super-G on Friday. “The speed is there. Everything fits me, I have fun driving, ”said the Norwegian in an interview with ORF.

“I am happy and relieved. I just want to enjoy the day. After my injury I came back to the top and every day I take it as it comes, ”said the American after his first podium in his 99th World Cup race. His mother Barbara Cochran had already won silver at the World Slalom Championships in Val Gardena in 1970.

“I really got into it.”

The best Austrian on Saturday was Max Franz in ninth position (+0.98 seconds). The 2016 Val Gardena winner, who says he feels particularly comfortable at the Saslong, had already put on a 0.44-second “backpack” during the first half time, but was able to keep the time loss to the finish within limits .

“I tried everything and really got involved. I wanted too much down. What I set out to do didn’t quite work out. I have to keep fighting to get back to the start number I want, “Franz said in his analysis of the race and concluded with the words:” Merry Christmas! Franz was in the Super-G on Friday with 17th place below his expectations.

Mayer has to overcome the limit in Val Gardena

Matthias Mayer (10./+1.05) positioned himself just behind his compatriot from Carinthia. The two-time Olympic champion had a shock moment at the exact spot where a thoracic vertebra broke in a fall in December 2015. Carinthian compressed after a “Verschneider” and lost time.

“I was able to catch the error and save the time in half. I have to exceed my limit here to be fast. Basically I am happy with the shape. I’m already thinking about Bormio, the descent is good for me, ”said Mayer, who also announced his departure on Sunday (10 am and 1:30 pm, live on ORF1) in the Alta Badia giant slalom.

Kriechmayr has doubts about performance

Vincent Kriechmayr was slightly behind his own expectations after a mixed streak in 13th place (+1.43). “That was not the beginning of the season that I wanted. If you want to be among the best, you have to get straight to the point, and I can’t do it right now. I didn’t make big mistakes. Right now, obviously, I’m having a hard time driving in a straight line, ”said the Upper Austrian, puzzled by his current performance.

Daniel Hemetsberger drove with starting No. 42 at 26 (+2.04). Otmar Striedinger, on the other hand, did not enter the race at all and saved a World Cup point in 30th place (+2.26). “I am lost today. I was never in front in split times. I have to analyze the race, ”said the 29-year-old Carinthian in his presentation.

Reichelt is struggling to return

Hannes Reichelt fared even worse. The Salzburg resident continues to fight hard for his comeback after his cruciate ligament tear in Bormio in December 2019. The 40-year-old veteran was 3.31 seconds behind the lead this time. There were also no World Cup points for Reichelt as 43rd. Christopher Neumayer (49./+3.81), Stefan Babinsky (51./+3.89) and Christian Walder (53./+4.15) also passed a bookkeeping success.

For men, the World Cup will continue with a technique triple in Italy over the next few days, starting with a giant slalom in Alta Badia on Sunday, followed by a slalom on Monday (10 am / 1:30 pm, live on ORF1) and the Madonna di Campiglio night slalom on Tuesday (17.45 / 20.45, live on ORF1).