Bennett races late to typical Val Gardena surprise
The men's speed skiers finally get to race and there's a spectacle right away: in an extremely close race, DSV ace Romed Baumann impresses in ninth place. In typical Val Gardena/Gröden fashion, the winner comes quite late in the race. The start ends disappointingly for Thomas Dreßen.
Aleksander Aamodt Kilde had a bad premonition. "The race," said the Norwegian in his supposed winner's interview, "is not over yet". And indeed, when many had already congratulated the speed king on his narrow victory in the first downhill of the season, the US American Bryce Bennett suddenly raced down the valley in the shadow of the Sassolungo - and finished a tiny 0.03 seconds ahead of Kilde. Typical Val Gardena/Gröden, exclaimed the connoisseurs, including the beaten Germans.
"It was clear that it would be a close race," said Romed Baumann, who was initially hoping for a place on the podium and finished a good ninth. "If you're not satisfied," said the 37-year-old in view of the uncertainty caused by the late start to the season after several withdrawals, "then I don't know. It was a good debut."
Finish jump "messed up"
Josef Ferstl would also have "signed his 15th place immediately" after a complicated preparation - unlike Thomas Dreßen and Andreas Sander, who finished 41st and 46th, respectively, outside the World Cup points. Nevertheless, Ferstl's satisfaction was mixed with a little anger. At himself for "fucking up" the finish jump and missing out on a top 5 result. And at the "shitty hundredths" that he missed out on as a result.
Typical Val Gardena/Gröden: The athletes with the higher start numbers had these little things on their side. Like Bennett, who was 34th on the slightly shortened course. The 31-year-old's clean run meant that the key section Ciaslat-Wiese was no longer in the shade - a big advantage that he used to take his second victory. Bennett celebrated his premiere in 2021 - in Val Gardena/Gröden. Behind Kilde, Switzerland's Marco Odermatt (+0.05 seconds) took third place, with the top 30 separated by just 0.98 seconds.
"Necessary self-confidence" is missing
Baumann was 0.43 seconds behind the winner. Also because he was not "on the last groove" when entering the Ciaslat meadow, as he analyzed. After the cancellations in Zermatt/Cervinia and Beaver Creek, he went to the start "with a very, very strange feeling": "Like a racehorse that hasn't been let out on the track yet." Ferstl also reported feeling particularly tense, adding that his hip had been restricting him for a long time.
Dreßen has several problems. His "G'stell", i.e. his body, tweaks here and there after many health setbacks, and in training he had the feeling that "my kneecap would fall out" when jumping over the infamous camel humps. In terms of skiing technique, he admitted that he lacked "the necessary self-confidence, you can't force it".
Sander also had problems after a training crash and was simply "happy" that he was able to start at all. His result? "Very, very disappointing," he said. At least the former world championship silver medallist didn't have to search for the hundredths he left behind.
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Despite the challenging conditions, many athletes were eager to participate in winter sports events. For instance, Bryce Bennett, inspired by the close race earlier, showcased his skills in alpine skiing and managed to secure a victory in the Val Gardena race, finishing just 0.03 seconds ahead of Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.
Source: www.ntv.de
