Petra Vlhová uses the first World Cup slaloms of the season for her first major demonstration of power. The Olympic champion is clearly leading after the first run in Levi – Lena Dürr is lurking in fourth place.
After taking second place in the first slalom on Saturday, Lena Dürr also has a good chance of a podium finish in the second race in Levi, Finland. After the first round, the 32-year-old from Germering near Munich is in fourth place. However, the gap to Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) and Sara Hector (Sweden), who are currently in second and third place ahead of her, is only 0.18 and 0.10 seconds respectively.
Petra Vlhová drives away from everyone again
Everything is still there for the Germans. Only the day’s victory seems to be as good as taken after the first round: Slalom Olympic champion Petra Vlhová, who was already in a league of her own on Saturday, put in another brilliant first run and is clearly in the lead with a 0.76 second lead over Shiffrin .
The Slovakian coped best with the dry snow and the turning course in double-digit minus temperatures, gaining a lead on the upper flat section and expanding it on the steep slope. Lena Dürr seemed a bit more reserved compared to Saturday and had a small lift in the flat section. Nevertheless, she is close to the podium places and should attack in the second run.
Dürr: “Mistake was unnecessary”
“The mistake was unnecessary”she said on BR television. “You have to be ready from the first goal and I don’t stay compact enough. It was okay down there.She had some praise for Vlhová: “Petra was strong again, every swing fits, she keeps it tight and short, and that’s crucial here.”
In addition to Lena Dürr, as the day before, only Emma Aicher (SC Mahlstetten/+ 2.46 seconds) qualified for the final. Jessica Hilzinger (SC Oberstdorf/+ 3.42), who is recovering from an injury and was eliminated from the first race, made it to the finish line this time. But there wasn’t enough time for the top 30. “I’m missing some slalom training, so I have to catch up a lot. Nevertheless, I expected more”said Hilzinger on BR television.