“Tick things off, analyze them, make them better,” was Kriechmayr’s motto. Head coach Marko Pfeifer promised that the Austrians would attack fully again.
“It’s not a European Cup, so all the boys are coming. We will use the full quota with twelve places in training and then start with eight,” said Pfeifer. In Wengen, the ÖSV started the downhill classic with only four men from the original start, of which only three made it into the rankings. For the first time since 1967, no Austrian climbed onto the podium in the first five downhill runs of the World Cup season.
The sting is particularly deep with Kriechmayr. Apart from his victory in Val Gardena in the Super-G, the speed leader is experiencing a difficult winter. So far he hasn’t been better than fifth in the downhill. “I’m just trying to quickly forget about it now. In general, the season is extremely bitter. But that’s part of it, after a low there comes another high,” said the Upper Austrian before the two descents on the legendary Streif. “I can’t expect miracles for Kitzbühel, but giving up is a letter.”
Image: GEPA pictures/ Mathias Mandl (GEPA pictures)
Nevertheless, Kriechmayr is still the most consistent and fastest of the battered ÖSV troops. Daniel Hemetsberger had been in poor health for weeks, Daniel Danklmaier is not yet in top form after tearing his cruciate ligament in April 2022. Marco Schwarz was ruled out for the rest of the season due to his crash in Bormio. Max Franz, Julian Schütter and Christian Walder are also injured or convalescing. Stefan Babinsky and Otmar Striedinger drive some good sections. Raphael Haaser still lacks experience in the descent, as do Johannes Strolz or Lukas Feurstein.
Nevertheless, ÖSV Alpine boss Herbert Mandl was confident before the Hahnenkamm happening. “I believe that our top runners will get back on track in Kitzbühel,” said the Lower Austrian. He doesn’t identify a pressure situation. “We got off to a sensational start to the season, the loss of Blacky Schwarz as team leader in almost all disciplines is unbearable. We knew on the descent that it was narrow. Vincent Kriechmayr is currently struggling with his performance. He’s not driving badly “But to be successful like Odermatt, you just don’t have the looseness,” he added.
Image: GEPA pictures/ Mathias Mandl (GEPA pictures)
“It can always happen quickly when skiing,” explained Pfeifer, who still considers Kriechmayr to be one of the best. “Of course, Odermatt and Sarrazin are in a league of their own. Then I would say it’s relatively open. I trust that Vinc can improve.” Once the veteran “has a turnaround, that’s where it goes.”
We’ll see what the balance of power is like for the others. At least Felix Hacker, Vincent Wieser, Stefan Rieser and Manuel Traninger will be there in the first training session on Tuesday. Christoph Krenn had to miss the descent in Wengen due to physical weakness. Hopefully he and especially Hemetsberger are healthy, said Pfeifer.
In any case, the Carinthian emphasized that sending the two of them home was the right decision after considering Aleksander Aamodt Kilde’s fall in Wengen, which once again triggered a security debate. Since Odermatt and Sarrazin are at the limit, the risk is even higher. “The top people are not moving back, they want to go there,” stated Pfeifer.
