Lara Gut-Behrami set the best time in training. © ANSA / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

A big topic of conversation after the first World Cup training

Let the games begin: The first World Cup race will take place on Tuesday at 15.15:XNUMX p.m. with the team event. Before that, the women completed their downhill training - and there was a topic of conversation.

04. February 2025

From Saalbach-Hinterglemm

The first women's downhill training took place on Tuesday in glorious weather - and the Ulli Maier slope on the Zwölferkogel was put through its paces for the first time. The fastest was Lara Gut-Behrami, who hit many key spots hard and was five hundredths of a second faster than second-placed Breezy Johnson.

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But it wasn't just this duo that coped well with temperatures around freezing point and glorious sunshine. The Azzurre also showed their skills. Federica Brignone finished the training in third place, 3 seconds behind, Sofia Goggia came fifth (+0,63). And: Nicol Delago sent a strong sign of life and landed in a strong seventh place. The joy of the Val Gardena rider was evident as she crossed the finish line.

“It’s a bit like ski cross.” Federico Brignone

The slope certainly provided a topic of conversation. "There are a lot of artificial hills here, which we're not used to. But it's not difficult to cope with them," said Lara Gut-Behrami. Federica Brignone and the German Kira Weidle-Winkelmann, meanwhile, said: "It was a bit like ski cross training." Brignone added: "You really have to work hard here. I like this snow, that's a positive thing."

The route was a topic of conversation. © ANSA / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

Sofia Goggia had a similar impression: "Last year I was unable to take part in the World Cup finals due to an injury. Today I had a good look at the slopes. There are a lot of waves and it's not easy to move on such terrain. But I think I did some good training. The slope feels good to me."

The next training session is already scheduled for Wednesday, when the women will be in action from 10 a.m., while the men will be doing their downhill training from 12 p.m.

Results 1st Downhill Training