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Vincent Kriechmayr had imagined the first descent of the season differently. Disappointing 41st place went to Gramastettner yesterday in Val d’Isere, 2.21 seconds behind surprise man Martin Cater (Slo), who achieved his first World Cup victory against Carinthian Otmar Striedinger (+0.22 ).
Kriechmayr, who was the fastest in final training, was enough to pass a hard mistake. “For me it was the ideal line,” reported the 29-year-old, “unfortunately there was too much fresh snow.” This had not escaped at that time. In addition, the slope became faster with increasing solar radiation. This was the benefit of Striedinger, who with his best time after 26 runners already looked like the winner against Cater with the number 41. “I still can’t believe it,” said the third Slovenian sprint winner in World Cup history. Striedinger, for whom it was only the fourth podium of his career, lamented his first victory: “It’s a strange situation when you are upset about second place for a moment.”
Striedinger’s roommate Christian Walder had practically shown him how: The 29-year-old took the podium for the first time on Saturday as third in the Super-G in Val d’Isere. First, Walder called his partner Cornelia Hütter at the end. “Apparently the hill is good for us,” said the Carinthian. After all, Hütter also took his first podium here in 2013 as third. 0.77 seconds behind the winner Mauro Caviezel (Sui), Kriechmayr crossed the finish line in fifth place.
Rumors about Hirscher
Meanwhile, a video of Marcel Hirscher, showing him doing pole training with the ÖSV team at the Reiteralm, fueled rumors of a return of the 31-year-old. Rather, it is more likely a sportswear ad campaign. “It served to make everyone else nervous,” Kriechmayr commented smugly.
