Gisin fastest in training but Vonn finishes second

Vonn in Val d’Isere training (GEPA/Mathias Mandl)

VAL D’ISERE, France – Snow was expected Thursday in the Tarentaise Valley, but no one could tell when it would come. As the morning went on, clouds started rolling in and the first snowflakes appeared at the top section around bib number 20. Switzerland’s Dominique Gisin started set the pace from bib 7 during the second downhill training with a time of 1:49.07. She was followed by American Lindsey Vonn in second position, just 0.04 seconds adrift, while Slovenia’s Tina Maze took 3rd position, 0.16 seconds behind. Austria’s Anna Fenninger ended in 4th, 0.46 seconds off the fastest time. The winner of yesterday’s first training, Maria Höfl-Riesch finished 7th, 0.66 seconds off the pace.

“I’m happy with my skiing today but I can still make some adjustments with my line,” said Vonn.

Gisin has won three World Cup races with the last one in Crans-Montana in March 2010. She has finished in the top 15 of all last five races she entered and seems to be close to her best level again.

“I had a good feeling on the piste today,” said 28-year-old Gisin. “I’m happy that I managed to build some speed in the flat bits of the top section today. I made mistakes there yesterday. It gives me confidence going into the race on Saturday. … I’ve been comfortable on my skis in the past weeks. In Lake Louise, the feeling was already good even if I made some little mistakes. I have to keep improving and hopefully it will pay off soon.”

Twelfth in yesterday’s training, Lindsey Vonn is getting back on track. She has won three World Cup downhill races at Val d’Isère in the past. She can win her 30th World Cup downhill race on Saturday and then become the fourth woman to win 30 World Cup races in a specific discipline, joining Moser-Pröll (36 in downhill), Marlies Schild (34 in slalom) and Vreni Schneider (34 in slalom).

World Cup leader Lara Gut started with bib number 22 and had to deal with the new snowflakes on the course, finishing 19th, 2.10 seconds off her team-mate pace.

“It gets harder when it snows and that’s why the piste was a bit slower,” Gut said. “It’s better when it happens on a training day. I hope the conditions will be regular for everyone.I know the piste quite well, but my two training runs haven’t been ideal. I need to find the right balance between the line and the soft way to ski to be fast on this specific slope.”

It is currently snowing in Val d’Isère and the decision to run the third and final training run will be made either tonight or tomorrow morning. Nicer weather is forecast for the weekend.

Release courtesy of FIS

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