Without a word she drove past her trainer, looking straight ahead. The slalom in Flachau ended in sheer frustration for Lena Dürr. She had planned that much. And so little worked.
She lacked rhythm in the first round. She reached the finish line more than two seconds behind – far away from her actual level. But it was still enough for 13th place. In the second round she risked more, but couldn’t keep up the pace and finally pulled in.
Dürr: “Nothing fit together”
She landed headfirst in the snow and slid down the slope. A scene that symbolizes Dürr’s low form. “Nothing came together today”she said, “The threader certainly fit the bill. It didn’t really play into my hands.”
The last races didn’t go as hoped either. Most recently, Dürr landed in eleventh place in Kranjska Gora and only 17th in Semmering.
But she demonstrated at the beginning of the season that she has what it takes to be at the top: fourth place in Levi and second place in Copper Mountain. And that’s exactly where she wants to go again.
Between frustration and fighting spirit
As frustrated as Dürr appeared after her departure, she was equally combative in the interview. “I have to keep going and don’t forget that I already had a quick swing this winter. It will definitely come back quickly.”
Dürr has already shown in the past that she can deal with setbacks. She had to wait years for her breakthrough. It wasn’t until 2021 that she made it onto the podium for the first time and has been one of the world’s best ever since.
One last Olympics?
Now the Germeringer woman is facing her next challenge. It might even be her last big one. At the age of 34, there is much to suggest that the Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo could be her last. But there is still time to overcome the dip in form. After all, she had already set her sights on the future after the race.