Cortina d’Ampezzo (Belluno), 20 gennaio 2022 – Despite the blows suffered in the fall last weekend in the downhill of the Cup in Altenmarkt Zauchensee, Austria, is always super Sofia Goggia. The skier from Bergamo, leader in the downhill and super-G ranking as well as third in the overall ranking, today in the first-time trial in view of the World Cup downhill of Saturday, January 22, has set the best time (she missed one gate) on the Olympia of Tofane. 1’37″83 the result of the stopwatch for Goggia, who was 20 hundredths ahead of the Austrian Ramona Siebenhofer and 33 hundredths ahead of another Italian, Federica Brignone, who just won the Super G in Altenmarkt Zauchensee. To complete the top five, the American Breezy Johnson, who is fighting with Goggia for the leadership in the Downhill ranking (66 hundredths), and Lara Gut-Behrami. 80 hundredths of delay for the Swiss, who last year in Cortina became World Champion both in Giant Slalom and Super-G, and 82 hundredths for Ester Ledecka, the versatile Czech who a month ago in Cortina won the parallel Giant Slalom in snowboarding, a specialty in which she is Olympic Champion. All the other athletes were above a second.
WORDS OF GOGGIA AND SIEBENHOFER – “They were not at all three easy days, on Sunday I took painkillers to compete in Zauchensee (19th place, ed.), on Monday I had a hard time getting out of bed” comments Sofia Goggia. “Let’s say it was a miraculous progression that brought me. Now I’m fine and I’m here. Being here is always a unique emotion. I love Cortina.”
“The Olympia of the Tofane is one of my favorite slopes, I feel very good in Cortina,” emphasizes Ramona Siebenhofer, who on the Ampezzo snows won two downhills on the Olympia delle Tofane in 2019. “The good placement of the first training is not to be overestimated, but it is always a good sign to be close to Goggia and the other top athletes.”
THE PROGRAM – Tomorrow, Friday, January 21, the second time trial will take place. The first start is scheduled for 11.30 am. On Saturday, January 22, there will be the downhill race, starting at 11.30 am. Finally, on Sunday, January 23rd, there will be the Super-G, starting at 11.45 am.
TICKETS SOLD OUT – The public will be present at the two days in Cortina, although with some limitations. “The response of fans and enthusiasts has been excellent,” explains Lorenzo Tardini, marketing manager of the Ampezzo event. “The places available in the stands and on the parterre were sold out. A nice sign of restart and normality that makes us look to the future with renewed enthusiasm”.
YOUNG SKI CLUBS PROTAGONISTS – During the World Cup weekend in Cortina, the young ski clubs of the Veneto region will also be protagonists. There will be over 400 young skiers in the Baby and Children categories, who will have the opportunity to see the reconnaissance of the athletes both Saturday and Sunday and, of course, to watch the races. “Saturday afternoon, at 5 p.m. in Angelo Dibona square, the first five most numerous ski clubs will be awarded,” explains Stefano Menegus, vice-president of the Fisi committee of Belluno and coordinator of the initiative. “They will receive technical material. The involvement of youth clubs is a consolidated tradition with Cortina and also this time the response has been excellent. This is an important event to bring base skiing closer to the highest levels.”