Speed queen Goggia claims the downhill at Cortina, Shiffrin’s fourth
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Cortina d’Ampezzo (Italy) (AFP) – Sofia Goggia won Friday’s World Cup downhill in Cortina d’Ampezzo, denying record holder Mikaele Shiffrin and extending her lead at the top of the event.
The Italian Goggia was 0.13 seconds behind the Slovenian Ilka Štuhec with a gap of one minute and 33.47 seconds, which was enough for her to climb to 480 points in the ski ranking and 208 ahead of Štuhčeva.
The 30-year-old has now won four of his five ski races so far this season, despite breaking two fingers in second place in Saint Moritz last month.
“The difference is going to the door and what your emotional state is when you get there,” Goggia said.
“I felt good today, but my descent was not flawless.”
Shiffrin finished 0.50 seconds behind Goggio in fourth, meaning she will have to wait at least one more day for her 83rd World Cup victory, which would have moved her now-retired former Lindsey Vonn into the elite skier’s spot for most wins alpine skiing circuit.
The American will have two more chances this weekend to break compatriot Vonn’s record with another downhill run in Cortina on Saturday before Sunday’s super giant slalom.
Shiffrin increased her lead over Petra Vlhova at the top of the overall standings to 449 points as her Slovakian rival did not compete in Friday’s race.
“I felt so good the whole ride … it was so good to ski, I’m really happy with it,” Shiffrin said.
“Now we have another chance tomorrow so there’s not really too many things I want to fix… so I’m really happy to take that lead and try to basically do the same thing again tomorrow.
“I could be faster again, but now I know I can do it, so it’s really exciting to go again.”
Olympic downhill champion Corinne Suter has fallen back to fourth in the downhill standings after flying off the course in what initially appeared to be a horrific crash.
However, the Swiss was soon back on her feet to the relief of the crowd and her rivals, including rival Goggio, who was seen turning away in fear.
© 2023 AFP