2024-02-17 12:09:26
Niels Hintermann won the downhill in Kvitfjell. The German speed drivers missed the top ten.
Niels Hintermann is the man of the hour in Kvitfjell: The Swiss prevailed just ahead of Vincent Kriechmayr (+0.08 seconds). For the Austrian, 2021 downhill world champion, it was the first podium finish this season. Cameron Alexander from Canada took third place (+0.19).
Behind him is the slope in Kvitfjell: he was already successful there in 2022. “I didn’t have the feeling that I was doing so well – but it was a success for me today,” said the Swiss at the ZDF microphone. Hintermann was doing well at the start of the season, but his performance declined from Val Gardena onwards. “It was an extremely tough season for me. My self-confidence was gone. But I invested a lot in my psyche and technique,” said Hintermann.
Fight for downhill ball postponed
This season’s dominator, Marco Odermatt, came fifth (+0.75). A decision has not been made in the fight for the small crystal ball, even though his closest competitor did not take part in the race. Cyprien Sarrazin was ruled out due to a calf injury the Frenchman sustained in training.
After three World Cup victories (two times in Kitzbühel, Bormio) and two more podium finishes (Wengen), the shooting star of the season was only six points behind Odermatt. After the departure in Kvitfjell, there is only one more race on the program in Saalbach/Austria in March.
DSV downhill skiers miss the season finale
There isn’t much to look forward to for the German team in the Downhill World Cup this winter and Romed Baumann only secured a top ten place with ninth place in Val Gardena. Things didn’t go much better in Norway either: Andreas Sander came 16th (+1.30), Romed Baumann 19th (+1.82). This meant that neither qualified for the World Cup final in mid-March.
Standing following 25 riders
Source: Nicole Hornischer
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