11:16
Lauren Macuga (USA)
At 21 years old, Lauren Macuga does a great job on these difficult slopes and makes up time, especially on the flatter part. But at the back she messed up a few turns and a top ten result was lost.
11:16
Alice Robinson (NZL)
Alice Robinson can’t find her rhythm at all today and is already a second and a half behind the competition early on. The New Zealander simply lacks experience in the descent.
11:12
Marta Bassino (ITA)
The conditions are still good and the route even gets a little faster at the top. Marta Bassino uses this to gain a good starting position and only take three tenths behind to the finish slope. When it came to the jump, the Italian was a bit behind, but she was still able to achieve a strong fifth place.
11:11
Michelle Gisin (SUI)
Michelle Gisin is clearly not back to 100% yet and is not taking full risks. So you can’t do much on Mont Lachaux and a comfortable descent ends in 18th place.
11:09
Christina Ager (AUT)
After her surprise podium in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Christina Ager is completely out of control today and is sliding down the slope more than driving. Then the Austrian also takes a goal and falls even further behind.
11:07
Laura Gauche (FRA)
Who else can knock at the front here? Laura Gauche definitely. The Frenchwoman was already on the podium here and has recently shown improving form. Gauche loses a few tenths early on Lara Gut-Behrami, but things are tight behind him. Is that enough for a top placement? No! She runs out of breath at the back and the number 13 flashes.
11:06
Ester Ledecka (CZE)
Of course, you always have to keep Ester Ledecká on your radar. Yesterday the Czech was the fastest in training, but today she doesn’t get in well and is a second behind. Then Ledecká improves, but overall it’s too smooth.
11:06
Priska Nufer (SUI)
Priska Nufer sensationally won the downhill here two years ago. The Swiss woman apparently remembers this and, after a slow start, gets faster and faster. After the jump she is even close to the top time, but then loses another two tenths before the finish. Still a strong performance!
11:00
Mirjam Puchner (AUT)
As the last driver in the top group, can Mirjam Puchner pull off another one? No! The Austrian was a huge behind early on and couldn’t cope with the course at all.
10:58
Ragnhild Mowinckel (NOR)
There have already been five different downhill winners this winter. Today there will be a sixth! Ragnhild Mowinckel can’t quite build on her good performances from Cortina d’Ampezzo and is afraid of taking the final risk. That was all a bit too hard and the gap is continually growing.
10:55
Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (NOR)
Now come the two strong Norwegians! Kajsa Vickhoff Lie shows a solid race, but has to readjust too often and cannot stay fully on track. These small errors add up to a delay of over half a second.
10:53
Kira Weidle (GER)
Now comes Kira Weidle! Can the German really let the boards run today? Unfortunately not! Already in the second intermediate time it is clear that this will not work, because there is a whole minute missing! From the material to the swing approach to the speed, nothing at all fits.
10:51
Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI)
What does the overall World Cup leader do? Lara Gut-Behrami is in fantastic shape and races down this demanding slope with sparkling clean technique and always standing centrally over the skis. At half time the Swiss is already half a second ahead and remains at the top even after two small mistakes in the lower part!
10:50
Ilka Stuhec (SLO)
Ilka Štuhec has already won on Mont Lachaux, but she also tore her cruciate ligament here. Today she is trying hard, but also unsure and almost drives past a gate. Then the two-time downhill world champion runs out of pace and only finishes sixth.
10:47
Federica Brignone (ITA)
Federica Brignone is not a downhill specialist, but this soft snow suits the Italian, who has already won the combination four times in Crans Montana. As always, the Italian drives at the limit, is in the lead for a long time and then actually gets carried way too far in the very last corner. That ultimately costs them the leadership!
10:45
Jasmine Flury (SUI)
Jasmine Flury is up and down. The Swiss starts well, but then leaves a lot behind in the middle section and is three tenths behind. From the back she then puts the pedal to the metal again, risks everything and flies over the line at exactly the same time as the leading Cornelia Hütter!
10:43
Stephanie Venier (AUT)
Stephanie Venier has been in top form recently, but somehow can’t find access to this route in Crans Montana today. The Austrian is not quite as brave as her compatriot before and cannot endanger her top time.
10:41
Cornelia Hütter (AUT)
Cornelia Hütter gets off to a furious start and immediately takes the lead with a sparkling clean start. The line fits and the Austrian stays on track almost throughout. She masters the shortened presidential jump safely and moves to the top!
10:39
Jacqueline Wiles (USA)
Jacqueline Wiles gained self-confidence yesterday as third in training and got in well, but had to make two corrections in the middle section and slow down. Again and again the American is pushed far back and so she is half a second shy of the finish.
10:36
Laura Pirovano (ITA)
Laura Pirovano takes the lead! The Italian tackles it bravely, always keeps up the pace and remains aggressive. There are a few small errors at the back and there is still room for the competition, but for now the number one lights up.
10:34
Isabella Wright (USA)
Isabella Wright did quite well in training, but she’s off work very quickly today! After just a few meters she slips too far while swinging to the left and misses the next goal.
10:33
Nicol Delago (ITA)
Nicol Delago doesn’t invest quite as much in the line as Rädler before and has a little less edge pressure. The Italian got through technically cleanly, but it wasn’t fast enough to take the lead.
10:33
Ariane Rädler (AUT)
Off we go! Ariane Rädler opens the race and initially has a few problems on fast and slippery snow. The Austrian becomes more confident in the middle section and gets through the demanding curves well. The first guide time is 1:19.64 minutes. What is it worth?
10:25
Shortened departure
At first glance, the conditions in Valais are very nice. The sun is shining and there is lots of real snow. But not in the valley. The route was therefore shortened a bit by moving the finish a little higher, also to prevent the many falls that have recently occurred. It starts at 2100 meters, the finish is 555 meters lower.
10:19
Home game for nine Swiss women
Will there be a home win in the Swiss Alps today? Lara Gut-Behrami and Jasmine Flury, who were always in a good mood this winter and were the fastest on the descent in Val d’Isere, would be most likely to do so. Priska Nufer and Michelle Gisin also have top ten results in the downhill. The Swiss Ski team is completed by Delia Durrer, Stephanie Jenal, Noemie Kolly, Jasmina Suter and Janine Schmitt.
10:16
Good chances for the ÖSV
Austria once again has several hot irons in the fire in the downhill. In addition to the recently extremely strong Stephanie Venier, Cornelia Hütter and Mirjam Puchner have also been on the podium several times this season. Ariane Rädler will open the race and can benefit from a fresh route. Christina Ager, Christine Scheyer, Nadine Fest, Emily Schöpf, Sabrina Maier, Michaela Heider, Franziska Gritsch and Ricarda Haaser will also be at the start.
10:10
Weidle leads the DSV trio
Kira Weidle hasn’t really broken the knot yet this season. A good fifth place in Zauchensee and three other top ten placements are also offset by some disappointing results. In Crans Montana, the 27-year-old showed good form with the best time in the first training session. Emma Aicher has already raced into the top ten twice this winter, but has barely been able to record any results recently. Katrin Hirtl-Stanggassinger is the third German to take part today.
10:01
Who will seize the opportunity?
After the injury-related cancellations of Sofia Goggia and Mikaela Shiffrin, pretty much everything is open for the women at the moment. Lara Gut-Behrami has taken the lead in the overall ranking, Goggia is still ahead in the downhill ranking, but will not compete in any more races this winter. Stephanie Venier could overtake the Italian with a win today and certainly has a good chance of doing so if she drives at a similar pace to her success in Cortina d’Ampezzo three weeks ago. Ragnhild Mowinckel was also able to win again recently and is now one of the top favorites, as are Lara Gut-Behrami and Federica Brignone.
Welcome!
Hello and welcome to the women’s alpine speed weekend in Crans Montana! Two descents and a Super G are on the program, starting at 10:30 a.m. with a descent on Mont Lachaux!