Grande Marsaglia !

Riders in this news :  Christof INNERHOFER  ; Didier DEFAGO  ; Jan HUDEC  ; Matteo MARSAGLIA

After Christof Innerhofer in downhill on Friday, it’s his young teammate Matteo Marsaglia who controls the “Bird of Prey” this Saturday. For the first time of his career, the Italian wins the Super G of Beaver Creek ahead of Aksel Lund Svindal (+0.27) and Hannes Reichelt (+0.70). It’s a very impressive performance because Marsaglia realizes a strong run without mistakes. Fourth during the final Super G in Schladming, the Roman signs today his first victory and his first podium in World Cup.

“What a day! I have been close to the podium last year so I knew I could do it, especially in Super G and I have always loved this slope. I pushed more than 100% and I still can’t believe it. Four years ago when I did my first training run on the Birds of Prey, I knew I would like this slope – I came down with a huge smile on my face, I was so excited. Whenever I got asked what was my favorite slope I used to say it’s the Birds of Prey, and that was before I won here so now it is going to have a special place in my heart. “

“Now I want to go race by race, at the finals last year in Schladming I was leading until the last intermediate but I made a mistake and finished fourth. With this victory today my goal will be to finish the season among the top seven guys and do well at the World Championships in Garmisch.”

For the rest of the Team Rossignol, the report is interesting: Jan Hudec ends 10^th, Didier Défago 16^th and Christof Innerhofer, despite a big mistake who costs him the podium, finishes 17^th. Note the nice performance of the young Thomas Biesemeyer who signs the best place of his career with a 18^th rank. 

Matteo Marsaglia Profile Athlete

Another best day for Cook!

Riders in this news :  Stacey COOK

 

Stacey Cook gets her second podium in two days in Lake Louise. The American is still behind her amazing teammate Lindsey Vonn, who did a huge mistake but crossed the finish line first!  

The Rossi’s girl Stacey Cook was very happy after this second race: “I've been waiting for that day for so long and it was kind of unbelievable when it happened, so special. Today I just really had a lot less pressure, I accomplished a major goal yesterday and just skied for myself today and just skied for myself today and really and really charged. I still had some speed in me from yesterday and I found little bit more speed in the course today, made a few little mistakes as well, but two podiums in a row; I never thought that was within my capability.”

Congratulations too to Marie Marchand-Arvier, just off the podium by 0.20 seconds. 

Inner Winner!

Riders in this news :  Christof INNERHOFER  ; Didier DEFAGO

Not in the timing in Lake Louise last week, Christof Innerhofer has realized a huge performance this Friday during the Downhill of Beaver Creek (USA). The Italian has controlled the “Birds of Prey” and ended first ahead of the two Norwegians, Aksel Lund Svindal (+0.23), double winner in Lake Louise and Kjetil Jansrud (+0.50). The Super World Champion 2011 signs the 4^th victory of his career, the 2^nd in Downhill after Bormio in 2008.

“I was so relaxed on the start today. Somehow I made it feel like a training run today and all I told myself at the start was – Go full gas! Until the very end I couldn’t believe this was happening, it’s so unbelievable! Especially knowing that I have been struggling with some injuries this summer. I was definitely more nervous once I crossed the finish line than I was when leaving the start gate.” I thought I had no chance against Svindal, but when he didn’t beat me it became a bit more real that I could win today!”, said Innerhofer after the race.

Didier Défago gets back to Top 10. One Super G on Saturday and one Giant Slalom on Sunday are scheduled this weekend in Beaver Creek.  

Christof Innerhofer Profile Athlete

Stacey Cook comes out of the fog!

Riders in this news :  Stacey COOK

 

Friday, for the first ladies downhill in Lake Louise, the conditions were tough and irregular according to the racers. With her bib 16, Lindsey Vonn dominated for 5^th time in a row the Canadian downhill with a huge margin, 1.73 seconds! Her teammate and member of Rossignol Team, Stacey Cook, signs the 2^nd place and her first career podium.

“I had a few mistakes but I was just charging the whole way. I kept a good attitude because I knew that it was going to be a close race and, even though it was not close between Lindsey and I, behind me was as close as it gets.”, said the American girl after the race.

Despite the bad weather, Tina Weirather and Maria Hoefl-Riesch share the third place of the podium. A second downhill and a Super G are scheduled for the rest of the week-end.  

Aspen: Three Rossi's girls in the Top 6!

Riders in this news :  Irene CURTONI  ; Lara GUT  ; Tessa WORLEY

 

4^th, 5^th, 6^th here are the places of Lara Gut, Irene Curtoni and Tessa Worley during the Giant Slalom of Aspen. Lara Gut had an impressive second run and she ended 4^th at only two tenths of the podium. “Thanks to everybody that believed in me after last year and helped to reach again the Top-15 in Giant Slalom! Next Stop: Lake Louise!”, she said after the race.

After her 8^th place in Sölden and her first podium in Giant Slalom last year in Ofterschwang (3^rd), Irene Curtoni confirms that she will be strong this winter. 5^th in Aspen, the Italian was happy and hopes that the second podium is for soon: “I know that I can play with the best, skiing fast, be unhappy of a 5^th place because I could be on the podium… All these things show me that I’m a lucky girl because I’m having fun and smiling!”

Winner in Aspen in 2008 and 2010, Tessa Worley has made some mistakes in the first run but her second run was better. She ends 6^th but the French racer said that “it was not sufficient and not good regarding her goals for the season.”

Congratulations to those three girls and also to Marie-Pier Prefontaine who signs the second best results of her career with a 13^th place. Anemone Marmottan is 14^th