Hot final awaits

ÖSV girls shine in the first downhill training session

Magdalena Egger was the fastest in the first Kvitfjell training run.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Austria's downhill racers put in a really strong performance in the first training session for the final European Cup downhill in Kvitfjell, Norway. Seven ÖSV girls finished in the top 15 - the fastest by far was Magdalena Egger from Vorarlberg.

"It was definitely a lot of fun," said Magdalena Egger after setting a clear best time of 1:24.54 in the first downhill training run for the European Cup final in Kvitfjell, 0.36 seconds ahead of Marte Monsen (Nor). "But I really struggled to assess how the run was. In the end, it was an appealing first training session, but I already know exactly where I still have reserves."

19-year-old from Lech surprises
In third place, ex-aequo with Frenchwoman Karen Clement, was Egger's Lech ski club colleague Leonie Zegg. The 19-year-old, who is a member of the ÖSV support squad, lost out to "Mäggy" by just 68 hundredths on the course, which was shorter than the World Cup. "I'm not quite sure myself why it worked out so well today," said a delighted Zegg, who had already attracted attention this season with sixth place in the EC downhill in Orcieres Merlette (Fra).

Seven ÖSV ladies in the top 15
With Tyrolean Lena Wechner in fifth place (+0.80), Carinthian Nadine Fest in eighth place (+1.35), Vorarlberg's Emily Schöpf - already the overall downhill winner - in 11th place (1.80), Salzburg's Viktoria Bürgler in 13th place (+2.02) and Carinthian Carmen Spielberger in 14th place, five more ÖSV ladies finished in the top 15. 
Another training session is scheduled for Wednesday before the final downhill points in the 2023/24 season are up for grabs on Thursday.