Final in Saalbach

Saalbach: Only Germans faster than ÖSV ladies

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Austria's speed ladies showed off their skills in their first test of the downhill course in Saalbach. Ariane Rädler and Cornelia Hütter finished in second and third place. The best time was set by the German Kira Weidle.

Stephanie Venier in seventh place was another Austrian in the top 10.

Sarrazin makes a strong comeback
The best time in the first training run for the final men's World Cup downhill on Sunday in Saalbach-Hinterglemm was set by Switzerland's Stefan Rogentin. Frenchman Cyprien Sarrazin finished 71/100 seconds behind him, with Italy's Mattia Casse (+1.20) in third. Otmar Striedinger in fourth place was 1.35 seconds behind, Vincent Kriechmayr in sixth 1.40 and Stefan Babinsky in eleventh 1.80. A further training session is planned for Thursday, but rain is forecast.

Cyprien Sarrazin(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Marco Odermatt, who has already secured the overall and giant slalom World Cup, was 2.12 seconds behind in soft slope conditions (13th). The Swiss is 42 points ahead of Sarrazin in the downhill. The latter had crashed in training in Kvitfjell on February 16, missed the races there due to a calf injury and returned fit in the 2025 World Cup venue. However, he was only able to train for one day each of super-G and giant slalom.

"I'm no longer in pain. But I also have no expectations, because a week ago I didn't know whether I could be here. Then I said to myself, okay, then I won't be here. I let go mentally and then I felt better. It's just a bonus that I'm here," said the Kitzbühel double winner. "But I'm ready to fight. I have to give my best, I can't control the rest." The fight so far has been good. He hopes he can keep it up until the end.

Kriechmayr: "The main thing is one more race"
Striedinger explained that a very good slope had been conjured up for the temperatures. "Let's hope the weather holds. I was absolutely not satisfied with my season and would like to have a conciliatory end to the season. That should be motivation for the new one." Kriechmayr is also hoping for one more downhill race this winter. "If we don't have such a good slope, it doesn't matter to me. The main thing is one more race." The Upper Austrian still has a chance of winning the super-G on Friday, he is 81 points behind Odermatt.