The Downhill race at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, is at all times a spotlight on the FIS calendar. Often called one of many hardest programs on the ladies’s circuit, final yr’s slew of crashes triggered concern main into Saturday’s race. Nonetheless, the day ended with solely two DNFs, neither ensuing from crashes, and it was a showcase of thrilling competitors. Native favourite Sofia Goggia claimed victory on January 17, sharing the rostrum with Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie and Italy’s Federica Brignone.
USA’s Jacqui Wiles kicked off the day with bib 1, setting a stable benchmark of 1:34.94 minutes. Regardless of a powerful run, she was promptly unseated by Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie in bib 2, who edged forward by 0.57 seconds. Wiles’ efficiency, nonetheless, earned her a season-high seventh-place end. Reflecting on her run, Wiles stated, “It felt like a stable run. I actually wanted a stable consequence this season, so I’m actually proud of the run that I put down.” The Cortina observe, with its steep sections, rollers, and terrain parts, stays a favourite amongst athletes for its difficult but flowing nature.
Norway’s Lie held on to her lead, whereas Elena Curtoni of Italy skilled heartbreak when she misplaced stability and missed a gate, leading to a DNF. Thankfully, there was no crash. Likewise, the present Downhill chief, Austria’s Cornelia Hütter, posted a aggressive time however fell wanting unseating Lie, possibly because of nonetheless recovering from the flu. Finally, it was solely sufficient for sixth place for the Austrian. Equally, Lara Intestine-Behrami, the reigning General Crystal Globe winner, impressed along with her means to select up velocity however made pricey errors that left her fourth total. Her teammate Corinne Suter completed simply 0.03 seconds behind her, awarding her fifth place.
Federica Brignone delivered an exhilarating run, coming inside 0.13 seconds of Lie’s time earlier than dropping momentum within the ultimate sector. Regardless of her frustration on the end line, Brignone expressed delight in her efficiency, saying, “In Cortina, it’s my first podium, one thing that I actually needed in my profession and was actually on the lookout for.”
Czechia’s Ester Ledecka put down a quick and livid run in her trademark fashion, but additionally couldn’t unseat Lie, snowboarding into what was finally eighth place. Stephanie Venier, who gained the Downhill at Cortina final yr, was 14th starter. The Austrian nonetheless additionally did not unseat Lie, snowboarding throughout the end line 0.82 seconds behind the Norwegian, with a time that finally was solely sufficient for twelfth place.
The stage was set for Sofia Goggia, the final of the top-15 skiers. Nicknamed “La Regina della Velocità” in her dwelling nation (“The Queen of Pace” in English), Goggia displayed her attribute dominance. Regardless of falling behind Vickhoff Lie’s tempo popping out of the Tofana Schuss, she unleashed a masterful efficiency within the technical center part, gaining practically half a second over her rivals. Goggia crossed the end line 0.42 seconds forward of Lie, clinching her nineteenth World Cup Downhill victory and thirty first total victory. “For us Italians, it’s at all times a particular place in Cortina, and at this time I felt like I had my coronary heart in my throat,” Goggia stated. “I didn’t know who was main, who was second, who was third. I simply had the technique in my thoughts.”
The American contingent confirmed different sturdy performances. Lauren Macuga, carrying bib 29, had a powerful run and completed sixteenth, constructing on her momentum from St. Anton, Austria, the place she walked away along with her first profession victory (and podium). Lindsey Vonn, competing in her fourth comeback race in bib 31, skied aggressively however made a vital error within the ultimate sector, touchdown her in twentieth place. “I’m a bit of bit disenchanted with my mistake at this time,” Vonn admitted. “I feel I used to be poised for one more top-five consequence, however that’s what occurs in ski racing.” The Cortina crowd, at all times passionate, was naturally thrilled by the performances of their homegrown stars, but additionally celebrated the legendary Vonn within the end space.
In the meantime, Keely Cashman earned the Stifel Bibbo Award which matches to the skier that advances probably the most in rankings primarily based on their bib quantity. Cashman, in bib 44, skied into twenty eighth place, incomes her precious FIS factors.
Together with her win, Goggia cemented her standing because the “Queen of the Downhill” and solidified her place as a favourite for the Olympic Downhill gold medal on the identical piste at Milano Cortina 2026. “Cortina is not only a Downhill, or a race. It means the world to me,” Goggia stated.
As the ladies’s tour strikes towards Sunday’s Tremendous-G, the anticipation stays excessive. With the climate and snow situations anticipated to be as good as they have been for the Downhill, the stage is ready for one more thrilling chapter on the Olimpia delle Tofane.
