Italy’s ski star Sofia Goggia narrowly missed victory in her World Cup comeback after a long period of suffering. On the first downhill run of the season in Beaver Creek (Colorado/USA), the Olympic champion from Pyeongchang flew over the infamous Birds of Prey slope, set the best time early on and was only edged out by Cornelia Hütter. The downhill World Cup winner from Austria won in 1:32.38 minutes, Goggia was 16 hundredths of a second behind. Super-G Olympic champion Lara Gut-Behrami (Switzerland/+0.34) came third.
Goggia (32) had a serious fall in February and suffered a complicated fracture to his tibia. She had already been the best in training at Beaver Creek.
Corinne Suter (Switzerland/+1.77), Olympic champion in Beijing, also made her comeback after a torn cruciate ligament at the women’s premiere on the “Birds of Prey”, risked little and missed the jump into the top 20. But she waved in Goal makes it easier for the fans.
Weidle-Winkelmann has to cancel the start
Speed Queen Lindsey Vonn is also back on the World Cup stage, the American was enthusiastically celebrated – even if she was only a forerunner. The 40-year-old rushed down the slopes on Saturday, not yet with a real start number on her chest and back, but with a “C”. She will be in the headlines during her comeback next weekend in St. Moritz. Vonn wants to compete in both Super-Gs there.
The German ski racer Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (Stuttgart) canceled her participation due to illness. As the German Ski Association (DSV) announced, the 28-year-old is suffering from a gastrointestinal infection and apparently survived a fall during training without any problems. Emma Aicher (21/Mahlstetten) crossed the finish line 3.60 seconds behind after a big mistake and was penultimate among 44 starters without any points.
The first Super-G of the season will take place in Beaver Creek on Sunday.