World Cup downhill in Aspen – “joke race” canceled after 24 drivers

The first of two descents in Aspen has to be canceled due to deteriorating weather conditions.

The weather gods in the US state of Colorado did not mean well with the downhill skiers on Friday. After the race had started, the conditions deteriorated almost by the minute. First the wind picked up, the visibility got worse and worse and then it started snowing – not good conditions for a ski race.

After 24 drivers, those responsible for the FIS had to admit that. They pulled the ripcord and stopped the race. The big sufferer was Adrian Smiseth Sejersted. With start number 1, the Norwegian seized the opportunity and, in slightly better conditions, set a mark that nobody could match afterwards.

Sejersted hoped that at least 30 drivers could complete the race. According to the regulations, this could then have been evaluated. It would have been the first World Cup victory ever for the 28-year-old. In the end, all he could do was get a consoling pat on the back from his team-mate Aleksander Kilde.

Odermatt criticizes “joke races”

Like other drivers from the top group, Kilde fell victim to the poor conditions and had no chance in the fight for the best time right from the start. As 6th he lost 1.63 seconds to his compatriot.

Marco Odermatt, who shook his head in 14th place, lost even more time. The downhill world champion was already half a second behind in the first section and lost a whopping 2.64 seconds to the finish. He then spoke of a “joke race” and criticized the race management. “If someone else gets injured in such conditions, we’ll miss the target,” said the Nidwaldner clearly.

At the time the race was stopped, Niels Hintermann was in 4th place as the best Swiss. The Zurich lowlander started the race with start number 6.

Better luck on Saturday?

Another descent is scheduled for Saturday in Aspen. Whether the weather will cooperate remains to be seen. On Sunday, the speed weekend in the US state of Colorado should end with a Super-G.