Did you have an inkling before the race that this could be your big day?
Not even. I felt the same as before any other race, I wasn’t even as nervous as the day before when the downhill didn’t go well for me. Now I told myself that I will not worry about who I will beat, but rather take it in terms of training and ride as I am used to.
You must have seen your winning ride a few times already, what was special about it?
I had a good start here even in training, the gate was in front of the plate, I made some progress there and was in the green numbers. Then I liked the part on the Ciaslat, where I had a good cushioning of the waves, I felt that in the ride as well. And most of all, the exit on the left leg worked for me, where I drove a better track than Marco and gained two kilometers per hour higher speed.
Is Val Gardena ideal for attacks with higher starting numbers in good conditions? Even the Swiss media wrote about better visibility and wind in the upper part, on the other hand, you were the only one who was able to take advantage of those conditions.
Probably yes, but it depends on the weather. This is also said about America, but this year the conditions changed a lot there and the wind was blowing. Here in the classic race, it is better to see at the top at the beginning, later the sun peeks out around Ciaslat on the biggest waves, which are ideal conditions, but you have to take advantage of them. The wind doesn’t play a role, but the visibility can improve, so I was happy for a lot of around thirty. For example, in Wengen it is more advantageous to go earlier, when the sun is shining, the top is melting.
Marco Odermatt congratulated you at the finish, whom you deprived of victory, how did the other competitors react? Could it be seen that they wish you victory?
That was beautiful. I was happy with the German team, with whom I ride for the second year and we spend all the time together, they all came for a joint photo shoot. Everyone wants to win, but it was nice of Marc to come and tell me that it was a great ride, even the Frenchman Nils Allegre, whom I pushed out of the stages, congratulated me. That sporting spirit persists, many boys wished me.
Traditionally, even your parents go to Val Gardena to support you.
As it is the first race of the season in Europe, they are going there, friends from Chomutov also came, and in the evening for the announcement, about fifteen more of them who were in Italy just arrived. It was lovely to enjoy it with my parents, they let them go to the finish line for a photo shoot. Without their support I wouldn’t be able to do this beautiful sport, so I’m glad I could share the success with them.
It must have been emotional for them too.
I think so. We all processed it gradually, and the joy with the serviceman, who has been driving with me for several years, was beautiful. Yes, it was emotional, there were even tears a few times.
In addition, dad had to convince the organizers that they had the right anthem…
The last time they needed the flag was for Ondra Bank, so they weren’t ready. They borrowed it from the Lochmanns (family of the second Czech downhiller in the race) and they checked the anthem with dad. They played him a piece on the phone if it was the right one to be announced right in the target area. They were already ready for the evening ceremony, they even got the flag.
Your only hesitation that day came on the podium when opening the champagne, there you could tell that Odermatt had more experience with it after fifty triumphs…
You still need to train there. (smile) I thought we were going to be instructed to open it, but Marco opened it right away.
Did you manage to read all the congratulations yet? Even Ester Ledecká spoke more about you after her race than about herself, all our elite skiers and snowboarders made a video for you through the association…
I’m still reading them. I watched a couple on Friday, then took a nap. It was very beautiful, I would like to do it again, on the other hand, I was drained mentally and physically from that day, and the next day I had another race. I didn’t stop from the race until ten in the evening, it was like being on a roller coaster, lots of conversations… The congratulations were beautiful from the Czech athletes, Evka Adamczyková, Kuba Hroneš and others. And I was also happy with the wish from the president.
Did you manage to have a small celebration with the German team considering that there was another race on Saturday?
The celebration was all that day. Many Czechs arrived for the evening announcement, followed by a meeting and dinner at the hotel with a champagne toast. But only decently, for me it was better than a brutal celebration. The next day I raced and I was done, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything longer anyway. On Sunday, I came home, where we have an annual gathering with friends, so they also prepared a surprise party for me with inflatable balloons in the shape of a number.
However, the super-G is being raced in Livigno on December 27, will you have time to enjoy Christmas?
I hope so. We will be at home for three days, I will go light skiing, plus some media obligations. And I will enjoy Christmas Day with extended family and classic traditions. My cousin catches carp, then we have soup from it, we will enjoy time with my cousins’ children, I won’t think about sports.
So I assume you didn’t consider staying in Italy until the Livigno races.
No, it’s one of the few days from September to April when we can be at home with our family. I won’t go to Livigno until the morning of December 25th, almost all European teams have it. Only the Americans and probably the Norwegians, who would have to fly over, remain.
