Downhill ace Vincent Kriechmayr tames the Stelvio piste in Bormio
The Austrian was the pick of the heavyweights in the speed event in Bormio, Italy on Wednesday (28 December). Kriechmayr edged out World Cup downhill leader Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.
Alpine Skiing
Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr tamed the Stelvio piste bowing out as the fastest of the favourites in the downhill at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Bormio, Italy, on Wednesday (28 December). Seeking his second victory in the speed event, Kriechmayr raced down the slope in a winning time of 1:54.68.
“It is fantastic to have the toughest race behind me, I made a good run. I tried to keep pushing from the start to the end and it worked really well,” Kriechmayr told the FIS.
“There are so many good athletes at the start, and it is not easy to beat them. I tried to keep pushing every meter and every turn so it is nice to win this race.”
Never too far from the top of the podium, Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde was the third fastest man, 0.68s adrift. Kilde is the current World Cup leader in the downhill event boasting four podiums in the event. The 30-year-old Kilde, who has won three of the five downhill races this season, rued an inconsistent run.
“I charged and did my game plan. I maybe could have been a bit faster at the very top but the middle part was good. In the bottom I was a little tight on the gate, got squeezed a little bit and lost some momentum. That’s it, it happens. It was rough conditions but what Vincent (Kriechmayr) did today was incredible,” said Kilde.
Canada’s James Crawford claimed only the third podium place of his career and second this season to finish as runner-up with a time of 1:55.08.
Overall World Cup leader Marco Odermatt again missed out on a maiden downhill victory after failing in his challenge for a podium place finishing fourth, 1.46s off the lead.
Men's Downhill Bormio on Wednesday, 28 December – Results
- Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT) – 1:54.68
- James Crawford (CAN) – +0.40
- Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR) – +0.68
- Marco Odermatt (SUI) – +1.46
- Ryan Cochran-Siegle (USA) – +1.87
- Urs Kryenbuehl (SUI) – +1.88
- Justin Murisier (SUI) – +2.17
- Gilles Roulin (SUI) – +2.18
- Mattia Casse (ITA) – +2.24
- Dominik Paris (ITA) – +2.29