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It was more relaxed with the men, who contested the final immediately after the women and then came into the limelight through Black. At Aare two years ago, the 25-year-old took third place in slalom and combined on the World Cup podium. In Cortina he put a small shovel. The fact that Kriechmayr’s successes, in combination as Matthias Mayer in slalom, the pressure to succeed was low and he was able to drive without worry, may have inspired him.
After the work was done, Schwarz searched for words to express his emotions, which he usually carries silently within himself. “That’s really cool,” he said, “becoming world champion is something very special.” At first he could not realize his luck. “It will take a while, but it is slowly seeping in,” says Schwarz, who can easily kick off in upcoming competitions. “Getting a gold in the first race is incredible. Everything that follows is an encore. Now I can ski with joy and enjoy the World Cup. “
Head coach Andreas Puelacher paid him respect and literally took his hat off for the third time at this World Cup. “How Marco designed the race, especially the Super-G, and then that performance in the slalom. We are very happy, ”said the Tyrolean. And in view of the perfect intermediate result of the World Championship, he said: “Having three world champions after three races shows the compactness of our team. Even though we have been scolded a lot, especially at the beginning of the season, you have to give the guys a little time, a couple of races, to keep up. We can look forward to the next competitions. “
Combined benefit for technicians?
For the first time in the history of the combination, the slalom had been completed in the order of the Super G result. A clear advantage for Black, who as fifth, 40 hundredths of a second behind Canadian surprise man James Crawford, was able to attack from packed without a trace and targeted second-place World Cup finisher Alexis Pinturault (FRA) in the halftime slalom. . Two-time world champion Kriechmayr in third place and Mayer in fifth still expected a surprise.
Puelacher had said before the race that the Kombi-Super-G on the women’s circuit was a disadvantage for the sprinters. “It is not that demanding. The slalom either, but that could be an advantage for the technicians ”. Schwarz was impressed by his performance in the Super-G and was confident before the final: “I’m a bit surprised. I felt really good driving, but that it worked so well is of course great. Now everything is inside. “
Hundredths of decision
On the not steep but completely icy and therefore difficult slalom, Kriechmayr and Mayer had no say in the decision, both failed after a few goals and left the show to Schwarz (“I have to step on the accelerator smartly”). Would you intercept Pinturault? Furthermore, with the Swiss Loic Meillard and Luca Aerni, other medal candidates lurked just behind Schwarz, who subsequently bet everything on a single card.
As Pinturault, as the leader, pinned the screen with eagle eyes, Schwarz got off to a strong start and quickly found his rhythm. The 37 hundredths of a second gap soon picked up, and Schwarz was sure to carve at least one medal in bare ice. But it was still tight. A low murmur went through the orphan finish area as Schwarz swayed and led. Pinturault crossed his hands; he had just lost gold by 0.04 seconds. Meillard was third despite a mistake, Aerni was eliminated. At that time, Black established himself as a world champion.
“I put the foundations in the Super-G,” said Schwarz, who had seriously injured his knee at the Kombi-Super-G in Bansko two years ago without falling. This mishap seems to have been overcome. “It was very good for me to ski on a slope like that with the panorama, I was relaxed. Thanks to the new system, the good placement in the Super-G naturally played into my hands, ”said Schwarz. The result was the best time in the slalom. “In total, the hundredths were on my side. Now I’m super happy. “
“A very special moment”
“It’s a very special moment,” said technology coach Marko Pfeifer after in the finish zone. “You are excited about every athlete. Marco did a great job, I respect what he did ”. According to Pfeiffer, this gold medal is on top because the combination shows the complete skier. “It was at a high level. Marco is rooted and resting on himself. He approached the gold as if it were on rails. Puelacher: “With him I never have the feeling that he’s on the edge and he’s out. It stays there like a rock in slalom. “
The companions were happy with him. “Well done. He did a great slalom anyway, but in Super-G he had it all ready,” Mayer said. And: “Toppling down the slope after getting injured, hitting all the goals without mercy, that’s huge. I can only congratulate. “. Kriechmayr, as world champion in Super-G just a tenth of a second ahead of Schwarz, said: “I am incredibly happy for him to have done it. The gold medal was well deserved.”
Intense week for black
The combination was just the beginning of the intense second week of the World Cup. The postponements to the start and the new parallel competitions resulted in an especially dense program. As Mayer and Kriechmayr travel home, Schwarz will start in parallel competition, giant slalom and slalom after the combination. The same program awaits Franziska Gritsch (Kombi-Eleventh), who should also face the team competition on Wednesday, for example Katharina Liensberger, who is considered ÖSV medalist in slalom on Saturday as Schwarz on Sunday.
After the postponement of the truck, Schwarz traveled home last Tuesday, trained in the Weißensee Slalom and Parallel Slalom and only returned to Cortina at the weekend. On Sunday he drove himself for the Kombi-Super-G. “Now is the time to divide forces well and be ready again when necessary,” said Schwarz. You are hungry for more success. On Tuesday (final from 2 pm, live on ORF1) the parallel competitions will be played in Cortina.
