Gut-Behrami prevails on the Kälberloch slope with a lead of a tenth of a second over the German Kira Weidle. The next best Swiss are Corinne Suter and Jasmine Flury on ranks 7 and 9.
Lara Gut-Behrami is unbeatable in Zauchensee on Saturday.
(sda) Lara Gut-Behrami makes a convincing return to the downhill run. The woman from Ticino achieved her first win of the season in the fastest discipline in Zauchensee in Salzburgerland.
The times when Lara Gut-Behrami was in full possession of her strength this winter were rare. But in the short phases without health problems, the Ticino was always among the best.
That was at the end of October when she finished second in the giant slalom in Sölden, or five weeks ago in St. Moritz when she won the first of two Super-Gs. At the beginning of December, at the end of the speed weekend in Lake Louise in Canada, she had also finished second in the Super-G, although a stubborn cold had not yet subsided. In the two days before, marked by the illness, she hadn’t really had a chance in the downhills.
Four weeks without a race
The fall in the second Super-G in St. Moritz did not have any serious consequences. A few days later, the infection with the corona virus was followed by the next setback, which should keep Lara Gut-Behrami away from the racing slopes for four weeks. One of the five missed races was the Val d’Isère downhill. When she returned last Saturday, after finishing 5th in the giant slalom in Kranjska Gora, she spoke of the tiredness that bothered her towards the end of the two runs.
The last few days were enough for Lara Gut-Behrami to get back into top physical shape. With strong performances in the two training sessions in Zauchensee, she indicated that she would be ready again.
Accordingly impressive she reported back in the race. In her second win this winter, she was a tenth faster than second-placed German Kira Weidle and a good four-tenths faster than third-placed Austrian Ramona Siebenhofer.
Number 1 in Super-G and Downhill
Lara Gut-Behrami was not only top on Saturday. In terms of World Cup races won, she is not only the most successful of the current riders in Super-G, but now also in downhill with twelve first places. Overall, she won her 34th victory in the World Cup.
Two other Swiss women made it into the top ten in the fourth descent of the winter. World Champion Corinne Suter, who had won her first of three World Cup victories two years ago on the Kälberloch piste, was seventh as the second best Swiss-Ski skier. Jasmine Flury from Graubünden equalized her best result of the season in the fastest discipline in ninth place. Noémie Kolly achieved another increase. The Freiburg native was classified as fourteenth as never before in a World Cup downhill.
Fall of Sofia Goggia
Top favorite Sofia Goggia did not finish. She retired after a minor fall. For the Italian, who was two tenths ahead of Lara Gut-Behrami in the intermediate time measurement before her mishap, this ended a long series of successes. She had won all of the last seven descents that she had competed in.
A Super-G will take place in Zauchensee on Sunday from 11:30 am. Lara Gut-Behrami will also be one of the big favorites in that race.
Zauchensee (AUT). Women’s World Cup Downhill: 1. Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) 1:45.78. 2. Kira Weidle (GER) 0.10 back. 3. Ramona Siebenhofer (AUT) 0.44. 4. Nadia Delago (ITA) 0.52. 5. Marie-Michèle Gagnon (CAN) 0.68. 6. Federica Brignone (ITA) 0.87. 7. Corinne Suter (SUI) 0.99. 8. Ester Ledecka (CZE) 1.06. 9. Jasmine Flury (SUI) 1.24. 10. Christine Scheyer (AUT) 1.26.
Further: 14. Noemie Kolly (SUI) 1.62. 18. Priska Nufer (SUI) 1.89. 24. Joana Haehlen (SUI) 2.12. 25. Wendy Holdener (SUI) 2.19. 26. Petra Vlhova (SVK) 2.27. 28. Jasmina Suter (SUI) 2.48. 36. Stephanie Jenal (SUI) 2.99. – 48 riders started, 43 classified. – Eliminated among others: Sofia Goggia (ITA).