At the first opportunity, Sofia Goggia it has demonstrated to all its white circus rivals that it is still the point of reference in speed. With a heart-pounding race in his style, pulling out all the stops where the others were more cautious, she clearly prevailed in the world cup super-G in St.Moritzseasonal debut for the fast tests, finishing with almost a second ahead of the second place.
If his last victory in the specialty dates back to two years ago, with this success she reaches 23 in her career in cdm, exactly like Federica Brignone, fifth today, who had surpassed her with the double victory in giant slalom in Mont Tremblant. The competition between the two – more or less emphasized by the media – is however bearing good fruit. The Italian won with a time of 1’16”63 and on the podium with her were the Austrian Cornelia Huetter (1’17”58) and an annihilated Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami (1.17.65), therefore back by more than a second.
«The great work done with the good races played is paying off. In reality in this super-G I didn’t think I would do very well and in some passages I seemed to lean a little too much and go a little long. But evidently I made the skis run well”, said the satisfied Italian who now has as her goal this season not only a new downhill cup but also the super-G one. As for the rivalry with Brignone, she declared: «It’s welcome, it keeps the interest in skiing alive and in Italy we need it, but we are different: she’s more technical, I’m more of a sprinter».
As expected on a track that is always much loved, Italy had a great match overall. Under a light snowfall and with less than perfect visibility also because the ‘Corviglià has large bumps and beautiful curves but in an open field, only snow-covered meadows and no trees above 2,000 meters above sea level, Brignone finished fifth (1’17”84) immediately behind the American Mikaela Shiffrin and this in itself says a lot. Due to a line error on a jump close to the finish line, Brignone lost a secure place of honor given that her time was giving her a good deal of reason compared to Huetter and Gut-Behrami. «I’m furious with myself because without that mistake I could definitely have grabbed second place or at least the podium. But I’m still happy with how I competed. Carry on like this in the next races”, she said. Then there was Marta Bassino, seventh, a good performance for the reigning world champion. Moments of fright for the waiting Elena Curtoni, the unharmed protagonist of a spectacular high-speed fall, which occurred just after Goggia’s descent. The Italian, having overcome a few moments of dizziness, got up and reached the finish line after recovering a ski that had flown away. For Italy today there was also 16th place for Laura Pirovano. Tomorrow, again in St.Moritz, there is a downhill scheduled and on Sunday another super-G with forecasts that give an improving weather and above all with Goggia, Brignone and all the blue jet girls already champing at the bit. The men, however, will be in France, in Val d’Isere: tomorrow a giant slalom competition and Sunday a special.