Alessandro Hammerley is really happy with second place – Gaschern

At the Figure Skating World Cup in Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy) on Saturday, the man from Vorarlberg was defeated only by German Martin Norl, who celebrated his third straight win after two wins at the start of the year in Krasnoyarsk (Russia). Third place went to Australian Cameron Bolton. In the women’s category, Pia Zirkold of Lower Austria took a solid fourth place.

In the men’s category, Styrian David Bickle, the second best Austrian, finished third in the junior final and was seventh overall. Julian Loftner, who lives in Vorarlberg by choice, reached the quarter-finals and was 13th. Unfortunately Jakob Dusik, who was stopped by Italian Tommaso Leoni at the top of the course in the round of 16, was able to get back on his way before losing a duel With Frenchman Ken Fogno. The lower Austrian lost a lot of speed, only finished third and had to finish 17th in the final standings.

“I don’t feel particularly comfortable on tight wild tracks like the one in Cortina. But I’ve improved from running to running and I’m really happy I got the highest score with second place. I’m in the final collision with Cameron Bolton in the starting section, and Martin Norell used that to pass us.” I didn’t give Martin anything to finish, but he skillfully defended his lead,” summed up Alessandro Hammerl, who won 11th consecutive World Cup race to secure a place on the podium for the Red Cross, White and Red team on the ice. At the SBX World Cup, the Austrian is now 20 points behind Norl with two races left.

After third place last week in the European Cup at Retralm, David Bickle finished seventh in Cortina d’Ampezzo with his second best World Cup result. In the previous season, Styria finished sixth in Valmalenco (Italy): “This seventh place was a bit of a surprise to me, because I didn’t get along well with the course. In the last World Cup, he usually finished early, so I felt like I got I finished third in the Reiteralm last weekend and drove a few times in qualifying again. That had a positive impact today,” said David Pickl.

Jacob Ducek was upset that Tommaso Leone’s attack in the Round of 16 went unpunished: “Acts like this have already been punished twice this season. I still struggled my way until Ken Fugno closed the door for me shortly before the finish line. It’s a shame. , because so much was possible,” says Jacob Dusik.

On a very narrow and very hard slope, some drivers decided not to start in the final so as not to get injured shortly before the Olympics. Viennese Lukas Buchner (25) went out of the starting gate on the first lap, but came back right after that. The two lower Austrians Felix Bondra (34), Marco Dornhofer (37), Vorarlberger Luca Hammerl (38) and Burgenland Sebastian Judd (42) missed entering the final 32.

In the women’s category, Pia Zircold entered a grand final for the second time this season after the Secret Garden, as at the Olympic dress rehearsal in China at the end of November, she placed fourth. Italian local champion Michela Mooli celebrated her famous home victory against France’s Chloe Tresbeuch and Britain’s Charlotte Banks. Pia Zirkold explained: “The track wasn’t perfect. When a few drivers pulled out before the finish, I naturally had my thoughts. But now I’m glad I overcame myself and resolved the situation well.”