Alpine skiing
Ski racer Dürr second at the World Cup slalom in Levi
Came in second place at the World Cup in Levi: 32-year-old Lena Dürr. photo
© Giovanni Auletta/AP
First race, first podium: Slalom rider Dürr impresses in second place in Levi. She leaves a highly decorated co-favorite behind. Only one rival was faster – and how!
Ski racer Lena Dürr started the new slalom season with a podium finish. The 32-year-old came second behind Petra Vlhova in Levi, Finland. Dürr was 1.41 seconds behind the outstanding Olympic champion from Slovakia. But she relegated former world champion Katharina Liensberger from Austria to third place by 0.14 seconds. Co-favorite Mikaela Shiffrin from the USA only came fourth.
On Sunday (10 a.m./1 p.m./BR and Eurosport), a second slalom is on the program for the Alpine women in Levi.
Successful slope Levi
Dürr celebrated the ninth podium finish of her World Cup career and confirmed her strong form over the past two years. Levi also remains one of the favorite slopes of the 2023 World Cup bronze medalist: in the last four slaloms in the far north she had already achieved two third and two fourth places – now she has added another place on the podium.
“It’s great to start with a second place,” said Dürr on BR television. The first race of a winter is always a new start, and that’s why she is “very happy” to be able to build on her form. “I am looking forward to tomorrow.”
The other two German starters were eliminated: Emma Aicher (19) in the second run after finishing 18th, Jessica Hilzinger (26) in the first run.
Olympic champion famous
After the first run, Vlhova led Dürr by 0.18 seconds and made impressive gains in the decisive round. She celebrated her 28th World Cup success and the sixth in Levi. As the winner, she traditionally receives a reindeer as a gift.
Shiffrin was aiming for her seventh Levi victory near the Arctic Circle, but then lost a place in the second round and slipped off the podium. The World Cup record winner had recently been slightly injured in a fall during training and therefore went into the race feeling weak.