It is the week of the World Championships: In addition to the Salzburg snowboarders and Nordic athletes, the ski mountaineers in Andorra are also fighting for World Championship medals. The greatest domestic hope is Jakob Herrmann from Pongau. His first appearance in the relay competition is on Wednesday.
03.03.2021 11.57
Online since today, 11:57 a.m.
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The individual race on Saturday in La Massana in Andorra at 1,200 meters is set to be the highlight of the Werfenwengers season. It was still questionable in autumn that Herrmann could even be at the start of this major event. During his last training ride on a racing bike in November 2020, he fell at a level crossing and broke his elbow.
“I like the World Championship route” – Herrmann is aiming for the top ten
The injury affected the entire planned preparation of the ski mountaineer, but with his performance in winter he was able to show that Herrmann recently finished sixth at the Marmotta Trophy in Italy. The Salzburg native has big plans for the individual race on Saturday. “A place in the top ten would make me very happy that this is possible, as you saw in the last few races. The track looks sensationally good, it is a bit longer, it is technically very demanding – that would be all right for me, a top five place could also be possible, ”says Herrmann with a smile.
The Werfenwenger still wants to keep his expectations as low as possible, because “if I have too much motivation, the shot often backfires a little.”
Technically demanding races are Herrmann’s
After the relay on Wednesday, the Pongauer will also start in the Vertical Race on Thursday, which is a pure uphill competition, there is no descent. Herrmann’s favorite discipline, however, remains the classic individual race with over 2,000 meters of altitude with ascents and descents, with crampon passages and sections where the athletes have to carry their skis.
“Andorra was my first World Cup eleven years ago”
At the World Championships in Andorra, this competition is the longest race. “This is a great technical race, unfortunately there is very little snow. I hope it won’t get too warm in the next few days so that the snow can hold up well. The first ascent is more on the longer side, that doesn’t really suit me – it often takes me to find my way into the racing rhythm, but I’m confident. ”Herrmann has positive sporting memories with Andorra – the 2010 World Cup was his first world championship, eleven years later the Werfenwenger collected altitude meters for the sixth time at a world championship.
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