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Since November 30, 2014, when Nicole Hosp prevailed in Aspen, Austrian slalom women have been waiting for a World Cup victory. Yesterday the drought almost came to an end thanks to Katharina Liensberger. But in the end it was World Cup leader Petra Vlhova who snatched the victory out of the hands of the Vorarlberg woman. The Slovakian won with a five hundredth of a second advantage, Semmering winner Michelle Gisin from Switzerland came in third.
“Hopefully the hundredths will be on my side one day,” said Liensberger, who was nevertheless happy with the result. “It’s amazing to be on the podium.” For the 23-year-old it was the seventh place on the podium in her career at the World Cup, after the race in Semmering she was second for the second time in a row. There he had to let Gisin go first for 0.11 seconds.
The race was decided in the last meters by the steep slope. Vlhova, like Liensberger, did not stay flawless on the salt court, but the Austrian pulled out a lot between late goals and saved the fourth fastest career time in the decision. For Vlhova, however, the 11th fastest time in the second round was enough for Zagreb’s second victory after last year. “I just struggled, made sure to stay on course and increase speed and take it with me,” Liensberger said.
“The girls are very fast,” said Vlhova, who was happy about the victory at the end. “I always have to be on the edge, because they challenge me tremendously.” This time, four-time Snow Queen Trophy winner Mikaela Shiffrin ran out of empty space, while the American came fourth and missed her 100th World Cup podium.
For Liensberger’s teammates, things weren’t so good either. Chiara Mair finished ninth, Katharina Gallhuber ranked eleventh. Franziska Gritsch came up at half time 18. In a miss-packed final, Katharina Huber fell into reserve a few goals before the goal and fell. Until then, Lower Austria had shown good intermediate times.
Rain, fog, and temperatures well above freezing created problems for the slope and thus for the runners. Lisa Hörhager missed the top 30 in her World Cup debut in 48th place. Katharina Truppe, Bernadette Lorenz and Marie-Therese Sporer were eliminated in the first round.
Now it’s the turn of the gentlemen
Manuel Feller was the last hundredth in the night slalom at Madonna di Campiglio, finishing fourth on a podium. On Wednesday, when it’s the men’s slalom turn in Zagreb (12.15pm / 3.30pm, live on ORF Eins), the Tyrolean wants to do better. After two races, he is currently just ten points behind leader Henrik Kristoffersen in the overall standings. “I can push and I don’t risk failing. This is how skiing is fun!”
Green light for Flachau
From the point of view of the World Ski Federation (FIS), nothing stands in the way of the slalom of the Women’s Alpine World Cup in Flachau. Sunday’s FIS snow inspection came back positive. The illuminated race should take place on Tuesday, January 12, so that it can go as planned, weather permitting. On the route named after ski legend Hermann Maier, the title of “Snow Space Salzburg Princess” is awarded. And it is tremendously lucrative: 174,000 euros are distributed in prizes, more than in any other race of the women’s ski circus.
