Leaving with bib 1, good visibility and no unfavorable wind, the Norwegian Adrian Smiseth Sejersted had long thought of taking his first World Cup victory on Friday during the first downhill of the weekend in Aspen (Colorado).
But the weather conditions then quickly changed (white day, unfavorable wind, snowfall or fog) and while the gaps became very important, the FIS and the local organizers decided to definitively interrupt the race after the departure of 24 skiers. . The first 30 should have started to validate the result of this descent.
Sejersted, who therefore had a good boost from the elements but also signed a very good run, without any notable error, was ahead of the Austrian Vincent Kriechmayr by 26 hundredths (bib 7) and by 60 the American Ryan Cochran-Siegle ( bib 5).
A second descent on Saturday
Behind, the differences became almost as high as the price of a daily pass in Aspen (between 209 and 224 dollars) since the Swiss Niels Hintermann, 4th, was 1”32 behind Sejersted. Snowfall and fog then largely disrupted the passage of several skiers, including world champion Marco Odermatt, only 14th (+2”64).
Several times interrupted by the fog, the race took on a frankly painful appearance. The skiers did not hide their dissatisfaction, in the arrival area, or in the departure area, where a meeting took place to put pressure on the FIS. The latter finally announced the cancellation of the race after 24 bibs. The wisest decision.
A second descent is scheduled for this Saturday (7 p.m. in France).
