Germans at the Alpine Skiing World Cup in Val Gardena: where’s the big hit?

IIn the shadow of the Sassolungo, the German downhill riders feel good, at least that’s what they say, and they have often enough confirmed that in the race. During the Christmas season, wonderful and surprising things happened on the Saslong. The victory of Max Rauffer or that of Josef Ferstl five years ago, for example. In 2019, Thomas Dreßen was the last German to stand on the podium at the World Cup races in Val Gardena. Oh yes, Dreßen. One day after his announcement that it looks good with a comeback, but not as fast as hoped for in autumn and that the Olympic Games will definitely take place without him, the rest of the German team at the Super-G proved how much the draft horse is missing despite the successes at the Alpine World Ski Championships last winter. And that it is sometimes uncomfortable under the Sassolungo.

Especially for Andreas Sander and Romed Baumann, who were still the orientation points for the German team in the North American races and who secured a ticket for the trip to Beijing. On Friday they had to give way to their colleagues in places 18 and 20. Josef Ferstl in eleventh place, a good second behind winner Aleksander Aamodt Kilde from Norway, and Simon Jocher in fifteenth place now followed suit, at least they managed part one of the Olympic norm. “I’m really having fun skiing again,” said Ferstl, who has had two weaker winters behind him. “It was a solid ride.” Jocher, who is still in training in his second full World Cup season, at least achieved his best result in the top competition class on Friday.

Nevertheless, another impression prevailed, namely that no German made it into the top ten. In general, the world’s elite once again pay attention to the downhill skiers in the white ski suits with the black stripes. But things are a bit tough this season, and not just because of the failure of the only winning driver. Dreßen was also absent last season, because of a hip operation. He came back to the World Cup in Cortina d’Ampezzo, but then had to undergo an operation on his knee. The cartilage was defective, and on the one hand building a new one is tedious and, on the other hand, success is uncertain. Dreßen seems to have succeeded, “the hard work and, above all, the patience have paid off,” he said. But this season his colleagues still have to do without him, who has won five downhill runs in the World Cup.

Less potential for errors on the descent

Last winter it worked really well with Baumann and Sander winning World Cup silver in the Super-G and in the downhill. But expectations have risen, both internal and external. They changed every year, says Sander. But of course, “now they are bigger”. The joy was therefore restrained when he swung off with starting number 15 on Friday and the “5” lit up on the display board. Those who start early in the race rarely have an advantage in Val Gardena over athletes whose turn it is later. “There is sure to be one or the other coming,” he knew. “That wasn’t the Andi I know.”