Reichelt speeds to Kitzbuehel win
Print Edition
Austrian Hannes Reichelt made up for teammate Marcel Hirscher’s disappointing slalom with victory in the famed World Cup downhill in Kitzbuehel, Austria, yesterday.
On the women’s circuit, defending overall World Cup champion Tina Maze picked up her first victory of the season, winning the prestigious Cortina downhill in Italy.
Starting with bib number 22, the 33-year-old Reichelt stormed down the 3.4km-long course on the Hahnenkamm mountain to clock 2 minutes 3.38 seconds despite suffering from back pain to end an eight-year Austrian drought in the event.
“For an Austrian ski racer to win in Kitzbuehel is a dream,” said Reichelt. “It’s beautiful, there were tears in my eyes during the flower ceremony.
“It’s very special. When you’re a child you watch the races and dream of (winning) them. Now that dream has come true.”
Norway’s reigning world downhill champion Aksel Lund Svindal finished second (2:03.59) with American star Bode Miller (2:03.72) third.
“2nd place Kitzbuhel downhill. I’ll take it!!” tweeted Svindal.
“I knew that my run was good but there were a few sections that were not good enough. I had a feeling someone would take it.”
Reichelt’s sole previous downhill win came in the Italian resort of Bormio last year, and the victory was his seventh of his career on the World Cup circuit.
In Italy, Maze clocked 1 minute, 37.79 seconds down the Olympia delle Tofane course, which was bathed in sunshine, then performed her trademark handstand celebration during the podium proceedings.
Marianne Kaufmann-Abderhalden of Switzerland finished second, 0.27 seconds behind, and Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein was third, 0.38 back.
Maze had a record-breaking 11 wins last season. Sshe had only three podium results — until this race — this season.
Two weeks ago, Maze made a staff change in her personal team, replacing Walter Ronconi with former Switzerland coach Mauro Pini.
The switch seems to have paid off and the timing couldn’t be better as the race was the final downhill before the Sochi Games next month.
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