13 JAN 2001 > Women's DH and Super G
Victories for Goetschl and Cavagnoud
Race Results: WDH   Race Results: WSG

This day will remain in the memories of many skiers for a long time — whether they were winners or losers.

The best speed specialists on the women's World Cup tour had to compete twice on the same day, first in a treacherous downhill then in a super G, on the long and demanding "Krummholz" course at Haus im Ennstal, which was covered by hard snow.

Those who survived it were glad, especially the top finishers, Austria's Renate Goetschl and France's Régine Cavagnoud, the two winners of the day, and Canada's Mélanie Turgeon, who twice reached the podium.

Many other were less lucky, or pleased, like Switzerland's Corinne Rey-Bellet who crashed, with the best intermediate time, in view of the finish line. The Swiss was forced to rest in the afternoon due to pain and multiple bruises.

"I proved that I'm strong in my head..."

America's Allison Powers also fell, just a few seconds before crossing the finish line in the downhill, yet she still managed to clock a time while sliding on her back across the line. She injured herself badly, tearing the meniscus in her right knee and the season may be over for her.

The super G Olympic Champion, Picabo Street, had a fast start in the downhill but she couldn't keep up her pace and finished way behind. In the afternoon, Street sort of gave up during her super G run because of the speed. The US leader may need more time than planned to come back to the top.

Croatia's Janica Kostelic is also a winner even if she barely scored any points in both competitions. The teenager from Zagreb, who entered her first downhill race since her bad crash at St Moritz in December 1999, showed great courage while cruising down the tough courses. She is now well placed to score a top-3 finish in the combined Sunday if she finishes the slalom in which she is trying to celebrate her sixth success of the season.

The downhill was by far more demanding than last year. The numerous accidents on the hard snow meant a lot of tension for the favorites. It's not a surprise that Austria's gusty Renate Goetschl, who lives in the province of Styria, where Haus im Ennstal is located, won that race. The reigning downhill World Champion is a true fighter and she took many chances on the demanding final section where so many skiers had difficulties.

She finally beat by 5/100 Italy's Isolde Kostner, the fastest in the upper easier part, and by 8/100, Turgeon, who achieved her best result in the event in over a year. This is the second consecutive win for Goetschl, after her success at St Moritz before the Christmas break and she seems ready to bitterly defend her World Cup title this season.

"It's still way too early to speak about the World Cup, but to win here in front of my home crowd is wonderful, it makes me really happy," she said. "I now feel able to give my best in St Anton in two weeks."

Super G: Victory for Cavagnoud
Régine Cavagnoud didn't try too hard at the end of the downhill and came in 4th, 2/100 of a second behind the podium. Her goal was to excel later on in the day in her best event this season, the super G. The French wore the red bib of the leader of the World Cup standings after her previous success at Val d'Isère and she wanted to honor it. This time, she was ready to test her limits and she did. After an aggressive and precise race, she beat Turgeon and Goetschl to score her fifth World Cup success in her career.

Turgeon, the winner of a super G last year at Innsbruck, was apparently inspired by the demanding course on which Canada's Gerry Soerensen won gold back in 1982. "It's a perfect course for me, long and demanding," she explained. "I can perfectly express my qualities on such terrain. I struggled at the season start, but now I feel back in shape."

Together with Goetschl and Kostelic, Règine has the talent and the determination to fight until the end for the big Crystal Globe. "I didn't want to take too many risks in the morning, but in the afternoon I felt quite confident and I had an excellent run," she said.

"I proved that I'm strong in my head," added the French woman who was twice 2nd in North America before winning the last two super G races.

The best US skier was Caroline Lalive, twice 7th, which qualifies her for both events at the Worlds at St Anton. Megan Gerety did fine with a 10th and a 21st, while Kirsten Clark had difficulties.

The coming speed events at Cortina should boost the morale of the US team, which was quite shocked by Allison Powers' accident.

In Sunday's slalom, Kristina Koznick and Sarah Schleper belong to the small group of favorites who aim to finally beat Janica Kostelic in this event this season. It's not impossible because Janica has burned a lot of physical and mental energy over the past few days. Another victory would in fact be quite amazing at Flachau.

— Manuèle Lang, World Cup Correspondent

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