The Frenchman was world champion in 2019 and second behind Marco Schwarz in 2021. In the 2021 title fights, Schwarz was 0.32 seconds behind after the Super-G – in the end he was four hundredths of a second ahead of Pinturault. This time the 31-year-old Frenchman stayed in front.
“A perfect day, that’s sensational,” Pinturault said on ORF. “A great performance in the Super-G and a good performance in the slalom” would have brought him gold: “This slalom was very exhausting, had many curves, especially at the end.”
After mixed season results, it was difficult to “find confidence,” he added Eurosport: “Everything was designed for this competition and I’m super proud that I made it.”
It was “very close” between him and Schwarz two years ago in Cortina d’Ampezzo “and again this year. Sometimes he’s in front, sometimes I – I think we both had a lot of fun.”
Schwarz and Haaser satisfied
So did Black. “I’m happy and I’m also happy for Alexis. Becoming world champion at home – that’s great,” he said patronizingly Eurosport. The fact that he missed gold by just a tenth shortly before the end after a short struggle was simply “part of the game. I’m happy with second place too.”
Pinturault comes from Moutiers, which is only 17 kilometers (by car) from Courchevel. Pinturault owns a hotel in the World Cup location itself. “It’s crazy for me and my village that I’m winning gold here,” he said happily. He laid the foundation for his victory with a strong Super-G, in which he already set the best time.
Strong Super-G: Pinturault delights Courchevel at home
“Incredible, I don’t know what to say,” said Haaser Eurosport: “The slalom was really hard. I didn’t know how to get through it at the top. Now I’m just happy.”
“It’s almost impossible to start better,” said the ÖSV men’s head coach, Marko Pfeifer, happily.
Swiss beaten – Strolz out of shape
The Swiss were among the defeated: Justin Murisier was eliminated at the first goal in the slalom, Loic Meillard was only able to catch up 0.14 seconds after 1.34 seconds behind from the Super-G in the slalom and was still behind the American River Radamus (+0.69) and Atle Lie McGrath from Norway (+0.72) to the finish.
Olympic champion Johannes Strolz (Austria) did not deliver a good Super-G (+2.48) and then retired early in the slalom. “I got on my own skis. That fits with the rest of the season,” said Strolz.
Oh no! Murisier threads the first (!) goal
Many speed specialists had only used the super-G of the combined athletes for training purposes and had not competed in the slalom afterwards – including the Austrian Vincent Kriechmayr despite fourth place (+0.58 seconds behind).
Jocher far back in 13th place
Simon Jocher made a mistake after 13th place in the Super-G in the slalom and thus made no progress (+5.50). The other Germans, Andreas Sander (+1.47/15.) and Romed Baumann (+1.66/18.), renounced the slalom, as did the Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.
The Norwegian broke his hand in Kitzbühel a few weeks ago. He decided in the morning not to do the slalom because the pain was too great, he said Eurosport.
The 30-year-old explained that he was “not one hundred percent”: “I would have liked to have been, but with my hand – no chance.” For the speed races, however, he is in good spirits and “ready to go”.
Specialists only train – criticism of combination appointment
Super G favorite Marco Odermatt (Switzerland) retired after a driving error with a good intermediate time – like Dominik Paris (Italy), who also retired, he had only “trained”. “An elegant solution,” said ÖSV finance officer Patrick Ortlieb on “ORF”.
“Intelligently designed”: Odermatt misses goal in Super-G
(with SID)
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UPDATE 04/02/2023 AT 10:28 AM