Crans-Montana (Switzerland) (AFP) – Malorie Blanc delighted her home Swiss fans by storming to victory in Saturday’s final World Cup super-G race before the Winter Olympics. Blanc clocked 1min 17.34sec in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana for what was her maiden World Cup win. It was just her second career podium after placing second in the St Anton downhill earlier this month.
Italy’s Sofia Goggia came in second, 0.18sec off Blanc’s pace, with American Breezy Johnson rounding out the podium (+0.36) after a fine run with bib number 29. “I’m so happy for myself and also for the fans,” the 22-year-old Blanc told RTS, in a perfect tonic for the town one month after the deadly bar fire that killed 40 people and injured 116. “It was a crazy run. It was a bit freestyle. I knew it didn’t need a perfect run to win. But I did the job and I’m pleased I was able to show what I can do.”
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A second Italian, Laura Pirovano, had threatened to take top spot, but missed the penultimate gate to ruin her day. Goggia, who won downhill gold in Pyeongchang in 2018 and silver four years ago in Beijing, said she was “really happy with the way I’ve been attacking the race,” especially after what she dubbed a disappointing January. “I have the confidence in downhill but in the races in January I couldn’t express my best skiing. I know I have to work a lot on myself on the flat parts if I want to be really complete in this discipline, but I was a bit disappointed.”
– Perfect snow day after Vonn crash – Weather conditions were perfect, with bright sunshine and excellent snow, in contrast to Friday when US speed queen Lindsey Vonn was a high-profile casualty in the downhill. That race was held in poor visibility on the same slope, but cancelled after Vonn’s crash. The 41-year-old was one of three crash victims among the first six skiers. Vonn, the 2010 Olympic downhill champion and one of the most recognisable faces in world sport, lost control on a turn and skidded out into the safety netting in the final downhill before the February 6-22 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
While she was able to ski down to the bottom of the Swiss piste after her crash, she appeared to be in great discomfort from her left knee, stopping several times. Vonn was promptly evacuated by helicopter for medical checks. She acknowledged that she had injured her left knee which underwent a partial replacement in April 2024, but insisted: “My Olympic dream is not over.” Saturday’s super-G saw German Emma Aicher crash out at the same turn as Vonn, seemingly without incident. France’s Laura Gauche also walked away unscathed after crashing into the safety mats in the finish area.
All eyes now turn to the Olympics. Three training runs for the opening women’s Olympic downhill in Cortina d’Ampezzo are scheduled on consecutive days between February 5-7, with the race itself slated for February 8.
© 2024 AFP
