Striedinger 17th

Without Kriechmayr, things looked bleak in Wengen

Otmar Striedinger was the best Austrian in 17th place.(Bild: AFP/APA/FABRICE COFFRINI)

Without Vincent Kriechmayr, things did not look rosy for Austria's men. In Wengen, Otmar Striedinger was the best ÖSV skier in 17th place.

This makes the dubious "anniversary mark" official: Austria's alpine men have been waiting 25 races for a victory. In the current season, the place in the sun has not yet been achieved at all. Manuel Feller was the last Austrian to achieve this. On February 25, 2024 in the Palisades Tahoe slalom. Since then, there has been no Austrian victory to celebrate in the men's event. Even if Kriechmayr hadn't won on Saturday, he seemed to be the only potential winner in the Austrian speed team. With his crash, things looked bleak for the red-white-red team in the downhill.

Striedinger 17th, Babinsky 21st.
No Austrians in the top ten, with Otmar Striedinger only one in the top 20. He was the best Austrian, 2.39 seconds behind. Stefan Babinsky was 21st, 2.39 seconds behind. "I have so much air in many passages. I have to trust myself to be in the here and now while I'm skiing and to pull off the turns mercilessly," Babinsky analyzed in the ORF interview: "I have self-confidence, I had great preparation and great training. I just believe that I have to trust myself 100 percent in the races. I am convinced that my time will come."

Daniel Hemetsberger (+2.93) in 26th and Stefan Eichberger (+3.18) in 28th did not make it into the top 20. Manuel Tanninger finished 3.67 seconds behind and missed out on the top 30. Not a particularly encouraging prospect with a view to the World Championships.