BEAVER CREEK, Colo. — Italian ski racer Sofia Goggia discovered a quick line by means of the technical Birds of Prey course to win a ladies’s super-G on Sunday.
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For that, Goggia gave an enormous help to good pal and fellow Purple Bull sponsor Lindsey Vonn.
The 40-year-old Vonn wasn’t competing Sunday, however did function a forerunner and examined out the course earlier than the racers. Vonn relayed a course report back to the highest of the hill for her American teammates — and to Goggia.
Goggia put Vonn’s recommendation into motion as she completed in 1 minute, 3.90 seconds on an overcast and windy day. She held off Swiss racer Lara Intestine-Behrami by 0.48 seconds, with Ariane Raedler of Austria storming by means of the course from bib No. 20 to seize third.
“ gave me tips and advice,” mentioned Goggia, who additionally took second in Saturday’s downhill. “What she said was vital to me. She was right.”
To rejoice, Goggia did a little bit dance within the end space. She tried to copy the samba dance that Brazilian ski racer Pinheiro Braathen broke out on the rostrum every week in the past in Beaver Creek when he completed second in a large slalom.
“It was a horrible copy,” Goggia mentioned with amusing.
Goggia had an inkling she may very well be quick the day earlier than when she was despatched a video of the super-G setup. It simply match her fashion.
“I thought it could be mine,” mentioned the 32-year-old Goggia, who received her twenty fifth profession World Cup race. “But between thinking and doing things there is the ocean. I had a really good inspection. I knew I had to stay a little bit careful, the first five gates, and then I could let my horses run.”
Goggia has been on the comeback path since a coaching crash final February by which she broke two bones in her proper leg. She mentioned she had a screw and plate inserted, which was giving her hassle. A lot so she was considering retirement over the summer time.
In September, she had the {hardware} eliminated.
“I felt so free both in my feet and also mentally,” Goggia mentioned. “I’m so grateful to put out my poles at the start gate and have the speed again, the chance. Because this is the best feeling.”
On Saturday, Cornelia Huetter of Austria made historical past by profitable the first-ever ladies’s World Cup downhill held on the Birds of Prey. She was fourth within the super-G, knocked off the rostrum by her Austria teammate Raedler, who earned a spot on a World Cup podium for the second time in her profession.
Intestine-Behrami had a productive weekend, with a pair of podium finishes . The highest American was Lauren Macuga in twelfth place. Macuga was fourth a day earlier within the downhill.
For Vonn, the subsequent race would be the actual factor — her first World Cup occasion in practically six years. She is going to compete subsequent weekend throughout a pair of World Cup super-G occasions in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
“I definitely felt it today. I was like, ‘OK, I’ve got a race in a week,’” defined Vonn, who has 82 World Cup wins. “I’m in that mindset. I’m in the zone.”
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