Alex Vinatzer scratches the podium in Wengen

Things haven't really gone as planned for Alex Vinatzer in the Ski World Cup recently. In Wengen, the Wolkensteiner is now scratching the podium. Two Norwegians put themselves in pole position for the win.

14 January 2024

From: cst

Atle Lie McGrath leads the race after the first round of Wengen ahead of his teammate Henrik Kristoffersen. The two Norwegians have a good chance of being at the front at the end, as third-placed Manuel Feller is already over half a second behind.

Alex Vinatzer provided the positive surprise from a South Tyrolean perspective. The man from Val Gardena is in fourth place, 73 hundredths behind. Vinatzer is 4 hundredths behind the podium. It's obvious where he needs to improve: Vinatzer lost a lot of time in the middle section. With a strong performance in the final (from 19:13.15 p.m.), the podium in Wengen is within reach. However, Vinatzer has to keep his nerves in check because so far a 22nd place is his best performance of the season.

Fighting for the podium: Tommaso Sala. © ANSA / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

The Azzurri don't just have Vinatzer in their kitty in the fight for the podium. Tommaso Sala (5th) is also lying in wait. He was 8 hundredths slower than Vinatzer. Former Obereggen winner Istok Rodes (9th) presented himself strongly. from Croatia, who made it into the top 35 with number 10. With Tobias Kastlunger (26th) and Stefano Gross (27th), two other Azzurri are in the final. Giuliano Razzoli was unable to qualify, Simon Maurberger and Hans Vaccari were eliminated.