Cortina: Goetschl nabs win from Mancuso; window closes for Kildow title

Cortina: Goetschl nabs win from Mancuso; window closes for Kildow titleCORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – Renate Goetschl of Austria won the Cortina downhill Saturday, edging Julia Mancuso of the United States by just five-hundredths of a second. It was Mancuso’s second podium in two days.

“It was really exciting today,” said Mancuso. “It’s hard to tell when the snow’s not very good how fast you are. But after yesterday, any result, I was already happy.”

Michaela Dorfmeister of Austria clinched the World Cup downhill title. With only one downhill race to go (at the World Cup Finals in March), Dorfmeister has an insurmountable advantage in the points tally.

“Maybe it’s the secret of my success this year,” said Dorfmeister, when asked if she would reconsider her decision to retire after this season.

“I enjoy every day now, and when you smile in the start you are always fast and it’s always fun.”

Lindsey Kildow, who was hoping to get within striking distance of Dorfmeister before the final downhill, finished ninth.

“I can’t get it anymore,” said Kildow in a cell phone conversation Saturday night. “It was definitely a goal of mine’ said Kildow. ‘But I haven’t had the results in the last few weeks, so I’m going to focus on staying in the top three and improving my skiing.’

The start of the race was delayed by three hours, first to clear fresh snowfall from the track, and then to await completion of the men’s downhill in Garmisch, Germany – so as not to present overlapping races to live television broadcasters in Europe.

“In inspection we thought the snow was not very good, and didn’t think we’d be racing, but the coaches and course workers did a really good job,” said Mancuso. “It wasn’t dangerous. It was fun. I thought it would be really bad.”

Anja Paerson of Sweden did not start the race because of the bad conditions. She is saving herself for the giant slalom on Sunday.

In Garmisch, Mancuso’s favorite athlete Steve Nyman finished fourth, a career-best finish.

Goetschl’s nickname is the “Queen of Cortina” because she has done so well here in the past.

“I think it comes from my first time racing here,” she said. “I didn’t qualify in that race, and it was always on my mind. So I think there it starts.”

Earlier this year, Goetschl was in a slump, and had a difficult time pulling herself up by her psychological bootstraps.

“I can tell you I was really down,” she said. “This time was one of my baddest. When you are really down, it is hard work to get back. But now I know I can handle it.”

Women’s downhill
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
Jan. 28, 2006
1. Renate Goetschl, AUT 1:09.64
2. Julia Mancuso, USA 1:09.69
3. Elisabeth Goergl, AUT 1:09.94
4. Michaela Dorfmeister, AUT 1:09.99
5. Fraenzi Aufdenblatten, SUI 1:10.22
6. Nadia Styger, SUI 1:10.26
7. Nadia Fanchini, ITA 1:10.37
8. Lucia Recchia, ITA 1:`0.38
9. Lindsey Kildow, USA 1:10.42
10. Daniela Merighetti, ITA 1:10.51
11. Carole Montillet-Carles, FRA 1:10.60
12. Kirsten Clark, USA 1:10.67
13. Janica Kosteliv, CRO 1:10.68
14. Petra Haltmayr, GER 1:10.77
15. Stacey Cook, USA 1:10.81
16. Martina Schild, SUI 1:10.97
17. Kelly Vanderbeek, CAN 1:11.04
18. Carmen Casanova, SUI 1:11.11
18. Ingrid Jacquemod, FRA 1:11.11
20. Katja Wirth, AUT 1:11.17
20. Ella Alpiger, SUI 1:11.17
22. Monika Dumermuth, SUI 1:11.23
23. Catherine Borghi, SUI 1:11.32
24. Marie Marchand-Arvier, FRA 1:11.33
25. Jessica Lindell-Vikarby, SWE 1:11.36
26. Chimine Alcott, GBR 1:11.47
27. Daniela Ceccarelli, ITA 1:11.51
28. Janette Hargin, SWE 1:11.68
29. Sherry Lawrence, CAN 1:11.76
30. Stefanie Stemmer, GER 1:11.82
Other North Americans:
35. Bryna McCarty, USA 1:12.08
42. Jonna Mendes, USA 1:12.69
44. Shona Roberts, CAN 1:13.16
DNS: Libby Ludlow, USA.
DNF: Emily Brydon, CAN.

THE SCOOP

Equipment
Women’s DH, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Jan. 28, 2006
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1. Goetschl, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
2. Mancuso, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
3. Goergl, Blizzard/Lange/Marker
4. Dorfmeister, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
5. Aufdenblatten, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
6. Styger, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
7. Fanchini, Dynastar/Lange/Look
8. Recchia, Volkl/Tecnica/Marker
9. Kildow, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
10. Merighetti, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

Women’s downhill, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Jan. 28, 2006. … It is the 23rd event of the women’s 34 race, two combined World Cup schedule. … It is the seventh of eight scheduled DHs, the remaining being in World Cup Finals at Are March 15. …It is the 28th DH held at Cortina.

It is the 38th career win for Renate Goetschl. … Third among women all-time behind Annemarie Moser Proell (62) and Vreni Schneider (55). … It is her 20th career DH win. … Second among women all-time behind only Moser Proell (36). … It is her ninth win (record) and 19th podium at Cortina. … It is her first win of the season.

It is the second career podium for Julia Mancuso. … Her second of the season and second in two days. … It is the 21st U.S. podium of the season. … It is the fifth time Mancuso has scored Cup points on the Cortina DH. … She has top 12 placings in all disciplines this season.

It is the seventh career podium for Elisabeth Goergl. … The first in DH. … It is just her 10th World Cup scoring result in DH … Her other podiums have all come in slalom and GS in 2003 and 2004. … She has scored in all four disciplines this season.

It is the 30th career top 10 for Lindsey Kildow. … 13th in DH. … It is her 12th top 10 of the season. … Fifth in DH. … Seven of her eight scoring results at Cortina have been top-10 placings. … It is the 45th career top 12 for Kirsten Clark. … 23rd in DH. … Seventh top 12 of the season. … second in DH. … Her second 12th in two days. … It is her 20th scoring result at Cortina, dating to 1997. … It is the fourth career scoring result for Stacey Cook. … All in DH. … And all this season. … Two have been better placings, both from Lake Louise (Dec. 2-3). … It is the 21st career scoring result for Kelly Vanderbeek. … Her eighth of the season. … It is the third time this season she has finished 17th. … It is the seventh career scoring result for Sherry Lawrence. … Fifth in DH. … Sixth of the season. … fifth in DH.

Janica Kostelic (13th in race) maintains a 200-point margin in front of the World Cup overall standings 1,228-1,020 over Michaela Dorfmeister (fourth in race). … Anja Paerson (did not start race) is third at 901. … Lindsey Kildow is the top American in the overall standings in fifth with 683 points. … Dorfmeister wins the DH title. … It is her fourth World Cup discipline title, having won GS in 2000, DH in 2003 and SG in 2005. … She also won overall crown in 2002. …She leads the DH standings 462-330 over Kildow, with one race remaining …Goetschl moves into third at 315. … Winning margin is five-hundredths of a second. …Top 11 skiers are within a second of the win. … Top 27 within two seconds. … Top four skiers each on different brand skis.