The Super-G World Cup in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on January 26th presented challenging conditions, with wet, slushy snow and poor visibility causing a brief delay. Despite these difficulties, Lindsey Vonn delivered a respectable performance. Starting with bib number 27, she demonstrated a strong top section, trailing the leader by just half a second.
However, Vonn struggled to maintain her momentum in the second half of the course, facing difficulties in finding the optimal lines. Ultimately, she finished 1.4 seconds behind Lara Gut-Behrami, securing 13th place with a time of 1:16.31. Although she didn’t achieve a podium finish, Vonn’s performance marked an improvement from her first comeback race in St. Moritz last December.
Vonn’s spirits remained high, as she waved to the crowd at Garmisch, a venue where she has enjoyed considerable success with nine World Cup victories. Since her return to competition, Vonn has shown steady improvement, including a notable finish at the St. Anton’s Super-G on January 12th. She also competed in Cortina last week, although she didn’t secure a win.
Vonn’s next goal is to participate in the World Championships in Saalbach, Austria, in February. However, she will need to be selected by the US team to compete. As she continues to work towards this objective, Vonn’s determination and resilience remain evident.
In contrast, Lara Gut-Behrami achieved an impressive victory, mastering the demanding conditions and securing her first win of the season. Gut-Behrami finished 0.35 seconds ahead of Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff, expertly navigating the middle section of the Kandahar course to claim her 46th career win. This achievement ties her for fifth on the all-time female winners list.
Gut-Behrami’s excitement was palpable as she crossed the finish line, expressing her satisfaction with her performance. “It’s nice,” she said. “I’ve been skiing well for a while, but still missing something, so it’s great to be able to win again.” Gut-Behrami’s triumph marked a significant milestone in her career, demonstrating her ability to adapt to challenging conditions and emerge victorious.
