Alpine skiing
Dreßen far behind in Val Gardena – Bennett wins
Drove behind in Val Gardena: Thomas Dressen. photo
© Gabriele Facciotti/AP/dpa
Thomas Dreßen, who is plagued by his injury history, is behind in the delayed speed start in Val Gardena. An American steals the show from downhill dominator Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.
Ski racer Thomas Dreßen had a disappointing start to the speed season. The 30-year-old took first place in the downhill from Val Gardena was only in 41st place. Romed Baumann in ninth place was the only German to make it into the top ten.
The American Bryce Bennett surprisingly secured victory. With start number 34, he raced to his second World Cup success. He had already won on the famous Saslong in South Tyrol in 2021. The downhill dominator of recent years, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde from Norway, came second ahead of the Swiss overall World Cup winner Marco Odermatt.
Slope different than during training
Due to the amount of fresh snow from the previous day, the piste looked a little different than it did during training, explained Dreßen. “The basic speed is there, I still lack the necessary self-confidence when it comes to technical things,” said the winner of the legendary Hahnenkamm downhill run in Kitzbühel in 2018. “You can’t force it, it comes with driving.” After many winters full of health setbacks, he is not yet at 100 percent physically.
Dreßen’s teammate Josef Ferstl took 15th place, Andreas Sander only ended up in 46th place. Simon Jocher was eliminated, Luis Vogt did not start after a training fall.
It was the first men’s speed event this season. The race was scheduled to replace one of the Matterhorn descents that was canceled in mid-November. In view of the tight program that awaits the athletes in South Tyrol in the coming days, it was held on a slightly shortened route. There is a Super-G in Val Gardena on Friday (11.45 a.m.).