Stuhec edges Goggia for World Cup Finals downhill win

Ilka Stuhec. Photo: GEPA pictures.

SOLDEU, Andorra — Ilka Stuhec completed her downhill season Wednesday by edging Sofia Goggia for victory at the World Cup Finals.

It was the 32-year-old 2017 downhill champion’s second 2022-23 victory. Stuhec skied with bib 11 and delivered very fast splits in sectors two through five to earn the win.

Italy’s Sofia Goggia finished in second place (+0.51). She is the 2023 downhill champion and winner of five downhills this season. Goggia is undoubtedly the most courageous skier of the season and has provided fantastic drama. “Only the brave.”

Third was the excellent Swiss skier Lara Gut-Behrami (+0.81). While Gut-Behrami has 20 career World Cup downhill podiums, this is the only one of the season.

Stuhec added a second victory in an impressive season when she was also runner-up at two of Goggia’s five downhill victories. They were the Slovenian skier’s first podium finishes since retaining her world championship title in downhill in February 2019 in Are, Sweden.

Stuhec’s past three seasons were affected by injuries and last April she split with the coach she worked with since 2019.

Goggia’s season-long downhill title was the fourth in the past five seasons for the 2018 Olympic champion from Italy.

Elena Curtoni, one of only four racers to win a World Cup downhill this season, crashed Wednesday, as did Nina Ortlieb. They did not appear to be seriously injured.

The two Stifel US Alpine Team members competing were Breezy Johnson and Isabella Wright. In their final World Cup of the season, both delivered brilliant skiing and finished among the top 10. Wright’s seventh place represents her career-best World Cup.

Wright finished one position behind her teammate Johnson. Johnson has seven career downhill podiums, all before experiencing a 2022 training injury. While she started the season pushing to find her speed, she ended the season well down the road to a total return.

Reflecting on the day and season as a whole, Johnson said, “This has definitely been my toughest season ever. Coming back and dealing with new staff and a lot of turbulence and changing course conditions from what I’m used to. But, I’m happy I’m in one piece. I’m ready to go get a recharge because I haven’t had one of those in three years.”

As is the World Cup finals tradition, women raced the same course as men. This meant that the men could give the women course reports.

“Alex Kilde gave me a course report yesterday. He’s just been very supportive and it’s been amazing to have some guidance and a different perspective than I’m used to,” said Wright.

March 15th World Cup finals results and Analysis of fastest three and US athletes

Analysis of the fastest three and US athletes

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This is a developing story, stay tuned for updates.