Capital fall still has an impact
A relieved Weidle cheers after the emotional departure
January 13, 2024, 4:10 p.m
After a mixed season so far, Kira Weidle makes a remarkable comeback in the downhill from Altenmarkt-Zauchensee. Her fall during training did not go without consequences, as she explains. Her teammate Emma Aicher fell during the race but was apparently uninjured.
Ski racer Kira Weidle defied all odds and showed her best downhill run in a year two days after her major fall in training. The 27-year-old raced to a good fifth place in Altenmark-Zauchensee, just 0.12 seconds short of the “Stockerl”. Emma Aicher fell during Speed Queen Sofia Goggia’s 24th victory, but apparently remained uninjured. Katrin Hirtl-Stanggaßinger turned 40.
After a courageous drive with a buzzing head in her favorite race, Weidle was 0.46 seconds behind Goggia, who was the first Italian woman to win at the Kälberloch. The Austrians Stephanie Venier (+0.10 seconds) and Mirjam Puchner as well as Nicol Delago (Italy/both +0.34) completed the podium.
“It was a big weight off my mind when I reached the finish line,” said Weidle relaxed. She hasn’t been this far ahead since third place in Cortina d’Ampezzo in January 2023 – and that was after the violent departure on Thursday, on the only possible practice run on an extremely demanding slope. Mentally, she emphasized, “it was one of the hardest descents for me.”
The competition also recognized this and congratulated her many times. “They also know that it was tough for me,” said Weidle. “I’m a bit proud of myself for how I’ve mastered it. I can be really, really happy with the previous story.” At the finish, she showed her right fist in relief and gave a timid nod. Weidle left behind, among others, world champion Jasmine Flury and top riders like Lara Gut-Behrami, while Olympic champion Corinne Suter (all Switzerland) was eliminated.
Weidle finished 14th in the Super-G on Friday. On Sunday (11 a.m.) there is another race in the twistier of the two speed disciplines.