The American, who was defeated in Levi da Flova’s first slalom, explains how “now in order to win, you have to really win it.” The German is on the trophy podium nearly 9 years after winning the Moscow event.
Michaela Shiffrin is smiling, also because if you don’t want to talk too soon about fighting for the ultimate World Cup, she’s already in front of everyone and work is set on the four disciplines, and she’s already thinking about the quick races to Lake Louise (despite some hurdles while training at Cooper Mountain), can make a difference compared to opponents.
What is certain is that an extraordinary champion like the 26-year-old from Colorado will always want to win, and second place in Levi’s #1 slalom could be tight if always ahead of him is Petra Vltova who, for some time now has been able to compete consistently with the American star. No victory number 46 in the majors (Stenmark stayed at +1), but podium number 108 in CdM (and there are 49 in the last 53 contested slalom races), and Shiffrin smiled after the race. “It’s the start…almost perfect – the three-time crystal ball winner explained through the USA Press Office – given the past two weeks (i.e. intermittent training), I can feel satisfied with a nice podium finish.
To win you have to really win it and today my performance wasn’t enough to do it, tomorrow I will try to be stronger and cleaner skate but today I was really able to put together very solid sections. True I lost on the first heat plan (36 cents, ultimately decisive), I lacked a bit of timing. We’ll work on that.”
Lots of joy in Germany: for young Emma Escher’s performance, 14th place starting with a 60-bib in her first World Cup slalom (but in the European Cup she was scary a few times last season…), again in points later, appearing Absolute first in parallel to Lech/Zoyers, 19, and more to return to the podium for Lena Doerr.
The 30-year-old Bavarian, who had already shown her ability to return to these levels at the end of last year, finished third in her career (excluding team events, where she has always done well), nearly 9 years after this city event in January 2013 in Moscow where he revealed himself, surprisingly winning the Parallel City. “It’s unbelievable and beautiful – the German exclaimed after the race – I made a mistake in the first half, but in the second I tried without fear because I wanted to get a good result right away. Tomorrow we will try again.”
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