ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP. Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy – Starting with bib number 9, Austria's Elisabeth Goergl raced to her second season victory, clocking the fastest time in the first of the two super-G races scheduled this week. World Cup leader Maria Höfl-Riesch finished just 0.04 seconds off the pace in second, while Austria's Nicole Hosp rounded out the podium, 0.34 seconds behind.

Elisabeth Goergl of Austria takes 1st place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Super-G on January 23, 2014 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom)

With today's win, Elisabeth Goergl has picked her sixth career World cup victory and landed her 37th podium. “What I am looking for everyday is the way to ski the best,” she said at the press conference. “That the main focus and of course it is great when it pays off and you are the fastest. For now, I feel very comfortable on my equipment. I am very happy I can ski the way I want to and that I am healthy. I appreciate everyday.”

Maria Höfl-Riesch was comfortable on the “Olimpia Delle Tofane” in training and took her confidence into today's race to climb onto the podium in super-G for the first time this season.

Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany takes 2nd place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Super-G on January 23, 2014 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom)

“It's my first super-G podium of the season and that's great satisfaction,” she admitted. “So far it hasn't worked fine for me in super-G. I was fast in some sections but always made big mistakes. Today I finally managed not to make any big mistake and I am really happy about this race.”

“The season has been going well for me, not perfect but really good. Even in giant slalom, I got two fifth places. The consistency has been missing a little bit. With the Olympics getting closer, I hope I will have enough of this consistency and mental strength entering the races there.”  

Nicole Hosp missed the podium in the super combined race in Zauchensee for few hundredths of a second but showed today super-G was her best event at the moment. She already took third in Beaver Creek super-G last November. “I feel good this year in super-G”, she commented. “I know I can be fast and for sure it's always nice when it works out and when you're standing on the podium. Maria and Lizz had both really good runs and I am not so far away. I am happy about it.”  

Nicole Hosp of Austria takes 3rd place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Super-G on January 23, 2014 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom)

Maria Höfl-Riesch increases the lead in the overall standings over her closest rivals Tina Weirather and Anna Fenninger who respectively finished 4th and 5th today. Dispite a disappointing 19th place this morning, Lara Gut keeps the lead in the super-G standings but she now has only three points more than Fenninger.

Podium at Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Super-G on January 23, 2014 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Cortina d'Ampezzo Ski World Cup)

Tomorrow's downhill is now in the minds of the World Cup ladies. The start is scheduled for 10:15 CET.

FISalpine.com
23 January 2014 12:27

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