Alpine skiing: ÖSV women hope for top place in combined

The Swiss Michelle Gisin is a co-favorite as Olympic champion and wants to extend the lead in the Nations Cup together with compatriot and double world champion Wendy Holdener. For the victory, they match themselves especially with Mikaela Shiffrin, Petra Vlhova and Federica Brignone. “It went very well this winter in slalom. Today I showed that I am really good at speed, ”said Gisin after finishing third on the downhill.

For the first time, the new start rule also applies to women, according to which the speed winner also has start number one in slalom. In Zauchensee, a Super-G forms part one, with a start time of 9.15 a.m. this will be a case for early risers. “We are used to this, often at half past six in the dark for training on the slopes,” says Ricarda Haaser, who has no problem with that.

Brignone is currently the most successful combiner

Brignone is currently the most successful combiner. The Italian has won three of the youngest five station wagons, but mostly Shiffrin and / or Vlhova were missing. Austria’s women have won five podiums in four Zauchensee station wagons so far, but a victory has never been achieved. The last ÖSV combi podium in general was almost three years ago (Michaela Kirchgasser 3rd in Crans Montana 2017), the last victory by Anna Veith was even two years longer.

At least Haaser, Ramona Siebenhofer and Christina Ager and Stephanie Brunner, who are currently injured, have provided top six places. Ortlieb is a local hope for a top spot on Sunday. “Compared to the last few years, I have trained a lot more slalom,” reported the Vorarlberg woman, whose speed results have recently improved significantly.

“It will still be a long time since we keep up with a shiffrin. But in comparison to many other speed athletes, I will be able to do well, ”said the daughter of Olympic champion Patrick Ortlieb. The new format is suitable for Ortlieb. “In slalom, the start numbers make a lot more difference than in speed. Now the slalom riders no longer have the double advantage. ”

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