Departure from Kitzbühel
Pain, let go: Dreßen and Co. come to the Streif with worries
Struggles with his body: Thomas Dreßen. photo
© Georg Hochmuth/APA/dpa
In Wengen, Thomas Dreßen fought back tears. In Kitzbühel he made a decent impression – and then missed the second training session. Either way, the Germans are just outsiders.
It is the most famous descent in the world. Top speeds of up to 150 kilometers per hour, jumps of around 80 meters, a maximum slope inclination of 85 percent. The Streif demands everything from the alpine ski aces.
Anyone who saw Thomas Dreßen fighting back tears after the race in Wengen last Saturday must have doubted that he would be in this week Kitzbühel is there. Germany’s long-standing top downhill skier and Streif champion from 2018 traveled to Tyrol very weak – physically and mentally. The first impressions he left there gave me a little more confidence. But he skipped training on Wednesday.
“I want to protect my knee,” said Dreßen. “I looked at everything yesterday and know where the criteria are.” Training on Tuesday was “solid”. The knee “felt good” and it was a “controlled ride” for him.
Big ski break in Kitzbühel
Dreßen, plagued by injuries and operations in recent winters, is not one of the candidates for the top spots this time – should he start – six years after his sensational triumph on the Streif. Just like his teammates.
Before the descents on Friday and Saturday (11.30 a.m./ARD and Eurosport), the 30-year-old symbolizes the suffering of the German alpine athletes in the season so far. They have supporting roles at the big ski break in Kitzbühel, where tens of thousands of fans and many celebrities such as Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger and singer Andreas Gabalier are expected.
“It just hurts,” Dreßen said after the Lauberhorn descent in Wengen. His body no longer cooperates properly. The heavily stressed knee gave way during the journey and he could no longer feel his right foot. That didn’t sound good at all. The SC Mittenwald athlete now seems to be doing a little better again. But what’s in it for him on such a strenuous journey?
Inspired by the birth of his daughter Elena last June and finally pain-free again, Dreßen wanted to attack again this winter. But he is a long way from his former class, 18th place in the Super-G in Val Gardena shortly before Christmas was his best result of the season so far.
Things are only going a little better for his colleagues. The Germans only celebrated one top ten place in the first five runs this winter – thanks to Romed Baumann, who came ninth in Val Gardena. Recently there was a world of difference between the top and the athletes of the German Ski Association (DSV). There has been a “considerable decline in performance” in recent races, Alpine boss Wolfgang Maier told the dpa. The team clearly lacks self-confidence and willingness to take risks. “They don’t drive with conviction,” said Maier about his speed specialists. The reasons for this are diverse.
Who will win on the Streif?
Pain, let go – that’s probably not just what Dreßen, the five-time World Cup winner, is thinking. Andreas Sander, second in the 2021 World Championships, also felt the consequences of his training fall in Val Gardena a month ago for a long time. Now he wants to initiate the “turnaround,” as he said. Dreßen, Baumann, Sander – they have all already achieved top results in Kitzbühel. It cannot be ruled out that at least one of them will have the great day they were hoping for this time and will be further up the line than last time.
But the favorites are different. The two-time overall World Cup winner Marco Odermatt, for example. The Swiss high-flyer already has seven victories this season; he recently celebrated his first World Cup successes in downhill in Wengen. Former world champion Vincent Kriechmayr at his home game or the in-form Frenchman Cyprien Sarrazin should also be able to do something for themselves – especially after the injury-related loss of the Norwegian speed dominator Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.
Mousetrap, carousel, larch shot, local mountain edge – there are many key points to master on the 3.3 kilometer long Streif. The Germans will need all their strength if they want to find their way out of the crisis.
Alpine World Cup calendar program Kitzbühel 2024