In the penultimate round of the season the blue places in front of the American Shiffrin, behind only the Slovak champion
It took just the power of Petra Vlhova, competing with Mikaela Shiffrin for the absolute World Cup, to prevent Marta Bassino from returning, on the salty snow of Aare, to success in the giant, or the specialty of which last season she had been Queen. The fine finish of the Piedmontese in the second heat – a decisive break that had allowed her to overtake the Shiffrin, who took the lead after the sixth place in the initial descent – had made us dream. But Petra was bad, indeed very bad: on the track that three years ago in this discipline had graduated world champion she did not discount any rival and at the moment she turned on the turbo, with many greetings to all.
Marta, however, consoles herself with the best result of a complicated season, definitely below expectations: the two previous podiums, also among the wide doors (said that in super-G the top three had only touched it), had been of third places (in Courchevel last December, in Kranjska Gora in early January). The victory faded – but the gap inflicted by Vlhova was very clear: 1 ” 24 the advantage of the Slovak coached by the Ticino-born Mauro Pini – leaves us a hint of regret, but in the most important circumstance having reviewed a toned and reactive Bassino, capable of changing gear. On the contrary, during the year she had seen it in a too resigned and submissive version: at the first difficulty she got lost.
Trailing by only three cents at the halfway point, a gap which was also reduced due to the serious error with which Vlhova had tainted a first heat that would have seen her dominate and not just finish in first place, the blue has interpreted at best , in balance between attack and attention to the infinite traps of a ruined snowpack, the proof that fixes its full revival in the specialty. Of course, the season is nearing its end (the finals will be held in Meribel-Courchevel from 16 to 20 March), but massaging confidence and self-esteem always makes sense. I needed this podium and I like to have hit it in a tough race. Perhaps in the first descent I had excessive respect for the track in the initial section, but in the decisive heat I managed to hold on and fight with the right attitude. That’s why I’m happy.
the sixth victory vanished, but the twentieth podium of his career arrived, with the hope of adjusting the balance in the finals. It was not so obvious that Marta would make it because the penultimate seasonal giant had become a trap for many and, as often happens, also an opportunity for those who have to recover (19 positions recovered by the Austrian Gritsch, who even gave a thought to the podium, 15 from the Swiss Haerri). Among the wrecks there is first of all Sara Hector, the number one of the specialty of the season but fell for a fork right on the home track. The primacy of her in the ranking of the giant is now undermined by the French Worley (who came fourth): the Swede’s margin of only 5 points, saved by the fact that Bassino first and Vlhova then managed to overtake Shiffrin. Speaking of Mikaela, she was 118 times in the top three of a World Cup race: her first heat had put her in a bad situation compared to the battle with Vlhova for the overall trophy. She has hit third place is a breath of fresh air: her record is still quite wide, 77 points. But the Slovakian is more than ever on track and the sprint between the two champions promises to be very interesting.
On the Italian front, which also greets the points of Karoline Pichler (26.a), there is Federica Brignone’s regret. Unfortunately, Lenzerheide’s second place did not have a sequel: starting with the bib number 1, Federica hooked the third last door and got on the fork, remedying a blow to the shoulder. Despite the pain in her arm, participation in the slalom on Saturday 12 March does not seem in doubt. The regret, however, strong: Even on this track I felt in confidence with the giant and I was the owner of my skis: this out burns me a lot.
March 11, 2022 (change March 11, 2022 | 20:04)
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