The double winner in Kitzbühel is back at the top of his game: second place in training

Frenchman Cyprien Sarrazin fell in Quettaville in February. Among the women, Cornelia Hutter was doing well.

The Swiss recorded the best time in the first practice session of the men's World Cup finals on Sunday in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. Stefan Rogentin on me. The Frenchman finished the race by 71/100 seconds Cyprian SarrazinThe Italian came in third place Mattia Cass (+1.20). Otmar Stridinger In fourth place was 1.35 seconds, Vincent Kriechmeier in sixth was 1.40 and Stefan Babinski in eleventh was 1.80. Another training session is scheduled for Thursday, but rain is expected.

Marco Odermatt, who had already claimed the World Cup for the all-around and giant slalom, was 2.12 seconds behind (13th place) in the soft downhill conditions. The Swiss lead the standings by 42 points from Sarazin. He collapsed during training in Kvitfjell on February 16, missed the races there with a calf injury, and returned to fitness in place for the 2025 World Cup. However, he was only able to do one day of Super-G and giant slalom training.

“I don't have any pain anymore. But I don't have any expectations either, because a week ago I didn't know if I could be here. Then I said to myself, 'Okay, then I won't be there.' I left mentally and then I felt better. The Kitzbühel double winner said: “It's just a bonus to be here.” “But I'm ready to fight. I have to do my best, I can't control the rest.” The fight so far has been good. He hopes to do so until the end.

A very good temperature gradient was created, Stridinger explained. “Let's hope the weather holds out. I was not at all satisfied with my season and would like a restorative end to the season. “This should be motivation for the new race. Kriechmeier also hopes to go downhill again this winter. “If we have a downhill that's not quite right, it doesn't matter to me. The main thing is another race.” In Friday’s Super-G, the top Austrian still has a chance to get the ball rolling, he is 81 points behind Odermatt.

Hutter in the front

The women also completed their first training run for the race on Saturday. The best time went to Kira Weidel from Germany. Behind them were Radler and Ariane Cornelia Hutter Two Austrians. For Styria, it's still (in theory) a little crystal ball in the Downhill World Cup. Lara Gut-Bahrami settled in 18th place (+2.35).