A podium with an Italian accent in Crans-Montana
Once again, Italian Sofia Goggia has demonstrated how it should be done on the Mont Lachaux piste, winning the downhill for the fourth time in a row. Lara Gut-Behrami is back on the podium after an unsuccessful race on Friday.
It appeared that you had to speak Italian to be on the podium on Saturday, in Crans-Montana’s second downhill. As was the case the day before, Sofia Goggia showed that she is uncompromising on the Mont Lachaux piste, which was able to be skied from the top today, despite snow overnight. She was able to do a good job of negotiating the most difficult parts of the course, combining speed and technique. Nothing seems to perturb the skier from Bergamo in this early part of the season, she is full of confidence, and has been on fire so far this season, as this is her fourth victory in five downhills. In this 11th win of her career, the athlete from Lombardy has equaled the American Lindsay Vonn, the last athlete to win four races in a row. In fact alongside Picabo Street, Sofia Goggia is only the second skier in 26 years to win at least four competitions in a row in the supreme discipline.
Lara Gut-Behrami back on the podium
Sofia Goggia beat Ticino’s Lara Gut-Behrami. After missing out in the first downhill on Friday (16th), last winter’s double winner in Crans-Montana picked herself up. Much more involved than the day before, despite back and pelvis pain, the skier from Comano almost snatched a 10th World Cup downhill win. 27 hundredths of a second separated her from Goggia, but still, the Swiss skier who has a love-hate relationship with the Mont Lachaux piste, seals the 53rd podium in her career.
The podium was completed by Elena Curtoni. The skier from Morbegno finished six tenths of a second behind her compatriot, grabbing 3rd place from the American Breezy Johnson. No mean feat for the Italian, who reached her fifth podium in career, the second one in Crans-Montana after the super-G in 2017. Ester Ledecka, who was 2nd on Friday and in the race for victory, crashed as she entered the final wall, finishing in the safety nets.
Jasmina Suter’s achievement, getting her place in the Worlds
If Priska Nufer provided a nice surprise for the Swiss team in the first downhill on Friday, on Saturday it was Jasmina Suter’s turn. The 25 year old from Schwyz managed the best race of her career, taking a magnificent 6th place, when she has never been in the Top 15 in the World Cup before, except in the combined in Crans-Montana last year (13th). At the same time, she also validates her entry for the World Championships in Cortina.
Corinne Suter also managed to improve on the Mont Lachaux piste this Saturday, but she didn’t manage to beat her rivals for a podium place. The skier from Schwyz finished 8th, over a second behind Goggia, but she also loses out to the Italian in the overall ranking in the speciality, as Goggia now has a lead of over 200 points.
Michelle Gisin (10th) also had a good race, despite a big scare on the last jump on the course. Priska Nufer and Jasmine Flury share 14th place, completing the Swiss results.
Video: SkiActu
Photos:Agence-Zoom
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1st Sofia Goggia/ITA |
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2nd Lara Gut-Behrami/SUI |
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3rd Elena Curtoni/ITA |
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The podium with an Italian accent! |