Lara Gut-Behrami takes the lead in Saalbach

Ticino signed the best time during the first training for the descent of the world championships. The Swiss have shown great things on this Ulli Maier track, white Malorie ranking among others 15th.
Lara Gut-Behrami announced the color from the first descent training of these world championships in Saalbach. Ticino was the fastest of the first timed trial on Tuesday on a track which required a lot of sliding but which also displayed particular characteristics with many rollerblades and bumps.
“It is special with all these artificial ground movements. I think they tried to do something since everyone said that the track was flat and too easy. It is unusual but it is correct, ”admitted the Comano skier, who did not identify difficult passages. One of the keys to be quick: “You have to pay attention to each ground movement not to jump but rather to gain speed. »»
Favorites to several tenths
Only the American Breezy Johnson competed with the chrono of the Swiss, finishing just 5 hundredths. Federica Brignone, one of the big favorites on the descent on Saturday, could only follow 0’63.
Under a bright sun but in a cold weather, many skiers have tasted this Ulli Maier track for the first time. Among them, Malorie Blanc, who celebrates this week her baptism of fire in the world championships, a year after her triumph at the junior world championships. The Ayenton signed the 15th best time even by getting up on the finish line, ending behind Priska Ming-Nufer (8th) and in front of two other compatriots, Corinne Suter (16th) and Michelle Gisin (17th).
A special track
“It is a fairly interesting track, there are a lot of waves, a lot of bumps, and for me having jumps it is always a good exercise because in the European Cup we don’t have much. It is really a nice track, “enthusiastic Valaisanne after this first outing.
The French Laura Gauché summarized the difficulty of the route succinctly: “There is always something to do, there are bumps, jumps, you are always in motion and it can quickly go in peanuts. »»
Two female training sessions are still scheduled for Wednesday and Friday.
Sim Sim Sim Wissgott, Hinterglemm