In Crans-Montana, the last World Cup downhill before the Olympics turned into a cursed race: poor visibility and insufficient safety conditions pushed the jury to cancel the event after three out of six athletes withdrew, including Lindsey Vonn who was suffering from her left knee and was at risk of the Olympics. Bad fall also for the Norwegian Monsen. The definitive stop allowed all the Italians not to start, including Sofia Goggia and Federica Brignone who would have competed in speed for the first time after the injury.
Federica Brignone: “I don’t pray, I only believe in work. I will face the fear”
by Mattia Chiusano
The world federation: “Stop due to poor visibility, we don’t want injuries”
Thus the FIS race director Peter Gerdol: “Conditions have changed, visibility is destined to worsen and was the main reason for the cancellation. We don’t want injuries in this sport, we don’t want to take risks”.
Vonn in tears at the finish line
Lindsey Vonn worried about the state of her ailing knee, to the point of crying at the finish line hugging her teammate Jacqueline Wiles.
Descent canceled after three falls out of six descents
The Crans Montana descent was canceled after three accidents involving six athletes, including the American Lindsey Vonn and the Norwegian Marte Monsen, which could have compromised the Olympics. Fortunately none of the Italians had one of the first six bibs, including Sofia Goggia and Federica Brignone who was returning to the downhill for the first time after her injury.
Vonn goes down on skis but hits his knee
Lindsey Vonn gets up and skis down to the finish line, but touches her left knee (not the one that had a prosthesis inserted last year).
Vonn also falls and ends up in the nets: three accidents out of 6 athletes
Lindsey Vonn also falls: the leader of the downhill cup, 41 years old, comes out at the same point as Nina Ortlieb, after the first jump she hits a bump, loses her balance and falls backwards with a dangerous rotation of her knee. After crashing into the safety net she was rescued while the race was interrupted.
De Chiesa: “Tomba asked not to run”
Paolo De Chiesa, former Italian player and Rai commentator, reveals a behind-the-scenes story live: “Alberto Tomba spoke to the director of the women’s team Gianluca Rulfi, warning him against this track a few days before the Olympics: “One can also decide not to start as I did in the past””
Accident of the Norwegian Monsen, descent interrupted
After the arrival at the finish line of the Frenchwoman Romane Miradoli, another accident in Crans Montana: the Norwegian Marte Monsen in the final section loses grip at the last bend and ends up in the nets, sliding without a helmet until the finish line. The toboggan arrives to take her off the slope.
Ortlieb out at the point where he was injured
The Crans Montana descent got off to a bad start and was immediately interrupted: the Austrian Nina Ortlieb crashed in the same place where she hurt herself five years ago. She lost her balance on the turn and flew into the safety net. Fortunately the airbag deployed and the athlete managed to get up.
Controversy over sponsor side events
Many companies linked to the promotion of this stage of the Ski World Cup did not heed the appeal of the international federation which prohibited collateral events linked to sponsors, out of respect for the 40 dead and 116 injured of the Costellation club fire on New Year’s Eve. Upon arrival, gazebos, promotional flags, free gadgets, music and product sales.
Crans-Montana, many sponsors ignore the mourning at the ski world cup
by our correspondent Franco Vanni
“Our thoughts are with you” on the arrival banner
Before the descent, a minute’s silence was observed for the victims of the New Year’s Eve fire. “Our thoughts are with you” is written on the arrival banner and in various points of the parterre. The blues compete with mourning on their arms.
Goggia number 9, Brignone with 16
Goggia with number 9 and Pirovano with number 10 will be the first Italians at the gate, then Brignone (16) and Nicol Delago (20).
