Keystone
Sofia Goggia is on the verge of her first victory of the season in the downhill. The Italian is leading the intermediate classification in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Lara Gut-Behrami and Corinne Suter are in 4th and 5th place.
Lara Gut-Behrami and Corinne Suter are 17 hundredths and two tenths behind the last place on the podium, which is currently occupied by Sofia Goggia’s compatriot Federica Brignone. Brignone, who would currently take over the lead in the discipline rankings from Austria’s Cornelia Hütter, achieved her first victory in a World Cup downhill in St. Anton a week ago.
Lara Gut-Behrami had secretly expected a little more on the course on which she had already come first four times in the World Cup and won the super-G and giant slalom titles at the World Championships four years ago.
For Corinne Suter, however, the result is the next step on her way back – one year after she tore a cruciate ligament at the same venue and two years after she suffered a concussion in a bad fall, but also became downhill world champion here four years ago. Twelve months earlier, she was one of the many racers to suffer injuries on the Tofana.
-The other Swiss racers who have started so far, Delia Durrer, Malorie Blanc, who came second in her first World Cup downhill in St. Anton, Priska Ming-Nufer and Michelle Gisin, were unable to keep up with their teammates. Joana Hählen was eliminated.
Sofia Goggia would win the classic at the foot of the Dolomites for the fourth time. She had already dominated in Cortina d’Ampezzo seven, three and two years ago. The closest to the Italian in terms of time was the surprising Kajsa Lie. The Norwegian was 42 hundredths slower.
Lindsey Vonn, who had difficulty avoiding a fall in the lower section, is in 20th place in the intermediate rankings.
Swiss
