For this new episode “In the Retro”, a look back at a race with a crazy scenario with four men in two hundredths and a shared victory. Bormio’s descent in 2012 made history.
It is this type of race that contributes to the legend of alpine skiing. All the ingredients are present to experience something unreal. The location, the main protagonists (Hannes Reichelt, Dominik Paris, Aksel Lund Svindal and Klaus Kroell) and the scenario provided a memorable descent. Bormio 2012 or one of the closest races in history. THE storytelling is perfect from start to finish, so let’s travel to Lombardy for this new episode “In the Retro”.
Dominik Paris positions himself in the lead
December 29, 2012, the descenders are, as usual, in Bormio to end the calendar year. A month since their season started. Aksel Lund Svindal, Christof Innerhofer and Steven Nyman won the first three downhills of the season. All these beautiful people arrive in Italy with the intention of continuing their positive streaks. That year, no super-G, just a single descent to score and arrive calmly in Wengen. That day, bright sunshine on the Stelvio, a perfect track and a crowd in attendance in the finish area.
A few skiers set off and the moment arrives for Dominik Paris, bib 10. The 23-year-old Italian is starting to find a place at the top of the world hierarchy but is still looking for his first success. In Bormio, he made a good start to the race but his intermediates did not turn out well. It is at the bottom of the route that it will make the difference. Four tenths taken over the last 20 seconds, he is a rocket and takes the lead from his compatriot Werner Heel.
The Bormio 2012 descent in full
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Hannes Reichelt devient co-leader
Seven bibs later, it was Hannes Reichelt’s turn to start. The experienced Austrian is up to half a second ahead of the Italian then in the lead. Enough to be the new leader? Yes, but. Reichelt is tied with Dominik Paris, they are in the same hundredth. Aksel Lund Svindal now throws himself down the slope. The red bib is a facsimile of the Salzburg race. Never more than 17 hundredths behind and finally only one when crossing the finish line. 3rd to 1 hundredth.
Number 22 on his bib, Klaus Kroell sets off when all the favorites have already passed. The podium seems frozen. The Austrian is in the Paris times at the top of the course, therefore a little behind the best times. But it will make it disappear in a few curves and lights green at the last intermediate. Unfortunately for him, his lines are more imprecise at the bottom, his speed remains correct. In this long finish line, the leaders wait and finally see a 4 displayed. Klaus Kroell is 4th, 2 hundredths behind. Not from the podium but from victory.
Mines defeated for Svindal and Kroell
The reactions of the main stakeholders add drama to the moment. Svindal is disappointed when he sees his ranking. The Norwegian lets out a laugh as yellow as his ski suit. Klaus Kroell can’t believe his eyes. Mouth agape, hands on his face, he understands that he takes 4th place, two hundredths from victory. Hannes Reichelt and Dominik Paris no longer have a smile on their faces, they shake hands after this last crazy descent.
For Paris, it is the first of its seven victories in Bormio. He will become the darling of the public and the man to beat on this legendary Lombard track. The first stone of a busy career. December 29, 2012, he will never forget it.
Swiss
