In the fog of Tarvisio, on a completely new route for the vast majority of racers, Kira Weidle-Winkelmann raced to second place. She only had to admit defeat by the premiere winner Nicol Delago from Italy. Lindsey Vonn came third (+0.26 seconds). Emma Aicher (+0.80s) also showed a strong performance with fifth place.
Despite the sensational performance, Weidle-Winkelmann initially shook his head at the finish. The fact that the 29-year-old was dissatisfied was probably due to the final part: the speed specialist was in the lead until the very last corner. But then the Starnberg woman veered off the ideal line shortly before the finish, had to take a detour and lost time: she ended up swinging off, two tenths of a second behind. “It’s a bit annoying with the target curve”said Weidle-Winkelmann after the race on ORF and added: “Of course that hurts a little.”
Delago sisters celebrate a fabulous achievement
Weidle-Winkelmann said she lost 26 hundredths of a second in this sector. “I swore while driving”said the Starnberg native in an ORF interview. The mistake cost her the victory and made Delago celebrate. It was the Italian’s first ever World Cup triumph. Delago had already made herself the top favorite in training with a best time; the 30-year-old is clearly feeling comfortable on the track.
Her sister Nadia was also able to prove how comfortable the siblings feel in Italy with a similar driving style and starting number 29. She surprisingly came in tenth – 1.15 seconds behind her older sister. At the finish, the Delago sisters hugged each other and celebrated their fantastic family result.
Weidle-Winkelmann in top shape
Despite the annoying mistake on Saturday, Weidle-Winkelmann showed how strong her form is just weeks before the Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Weidle-Winkelmann had already celebrated her first podium finish in almost three years in Val D’Isere in December. She shows great training runs and now manages to deliver this performance in competition. “I’m happy that the speed is back, that my skiing is the way I want it to be”Weidle-Winkelmann appeared satisfied with her current form on ORF.
Emma Aicher also proved in Tarvisio that the all-rounder is always a force to be reckoned with: The DSV youngster showed off her gliding skills and ended up in fifth place. “It’s quite okay”said Aicher about the result on the track. “I know it can be better. But I’m satisfied.”
Tarvisio is new territory for them Speed riders
After 15 years, the Women’s World Cup has returned to Tarvisio for speed racing. For many of the athletes who took part on Saturday, the route in the Italian-Austrian-Slovenian border triangle was completely new territory. Only veteran and comeback queen Lindsey Vonn and the Italian Elena Curtoni know the speed course from the races in the noughties.
Tarvisio turned out to be a paradise for gliders – anyone who put their poles under their armpits and crouched low, or who put their skis flat, was quick here. On Sunday there will be another Super-G on the same route, in which Weidle-Winkelmann and Aicher will also be at the start again.
