Alpine skiing: National coach brakes World Cup expectations for Dürr: “No pressure”

Alpine skiing
National coach puts the brakes on Dürr’s World Cup expectations: “No pressure”

Won the slalom in Špindlerův Mlýn: Lena Dürr. photo

© Piermarco Tacca/AP/dpa

Ski racer Lena Dürr trumps noble technician Mikaela Shiffrin and celebrates the first slalom victory of her career. At the World Cup, she is a beacon of hope.

After Lena Dürr’s first slalom victory, the national coach of the alpine women’s team, Andreas Puelacher, warned against too high expectations of the World Cup.

“You have to be careful. There shouldn’t be any pressure,” said the Austrian of the German Press Agency with a view to the major event in France beginning on February 6th. Of course, Dürr’s main goal was to win the race. “But you shouldn’t overestimate the whole thing.”

The ski racer celebrated the greatest success of her career in her 190th World Cup race in Spindlermühle in the Czech Republic. Even alpine high-flyer Mikaela Shiffrin from the USA was left behind in second place this time. “I’m most pleased that Lena is relaxed and skis very quickly. Being in front of the Shiffrin means a lot,” said Puelacher. The aim must be to continue to drive so freely.

At the Alpine Ski World Championships from February 6th to 19th, Dürr is one of the greatest hopes from a German perspective alongside slalom specialist Linus Straßer. Downhill skier Kira Weidle and Alexander Schmid in the giant slalom can also calculate their chances of a medal. The German speed men, on the other hand, travel to France as clear outsiders.

dpa

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