Ski World Cup
Downhill fairy tale 2.0? The World Cup fire is blazing with Andreas Sander
Andreas Sander relies on his “killer instinct” in the World Cup downhill. photo
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
Sander’s silver coup at the 2021 World Cup follows the rapid fall. Alpine boss Wolfgang Maier knows why. The ski racer finally wants a medal again on Sunday.
The German Ski Association has booked the three-star hotel “Les Flocons” entirely for itself. At the foot of the ski lifts and with a view of Mont Blanc, ski racers in the quaint little winter sports resort of Courchevel recharge their batteries for the World Cup competitions.
“It’s good for the mood. You feel more at home right away,” says speed specialist Andreas Sander. The 33-year-old 2021 World Cup runner-up sits in a cozy wooden room as he talks about his goals. In front of him, burgundy fabric armchairs for the guests. The French Alpine panorama is reflected in the huge windows.
Sander looks back fondly on his personal contribution to the German World Cup madness two years ago. It was February 14th, 2021 when the high-speed skier in the sunshine of the Dolomites reached for sensational silver and added a downhill chapter to the black, red and gold winter fairy tale of Cortina d’Ampezzo. “I like to watch good rides again, because I can bring the feeling back,” says Sander before the supreme discipline this Sunday (11 a.m. / ZDF and Eurosport).
Rapid fall after promotion to the World Cup
In order to feel the feeling of a podium finish, the German has to dig deep into his memories. Because the meteoric rise to the World Cup was followed by a fall that was almost as quick. After 178 World Cup races, the 33-year-old is still looking in vain for a place in the top three. Even a top ten placement is rare.
At the start of his title competitions in France, Sander finished ninth in the Super-G on Thursday. The German alpine boss Wolfgang Maier called his protégé the only “really competitive man” in the speed team. But no one asks about ninth place in the end. It’s gold, silver and bronze.
What went wrong after the World Cup in Cortina? “Andi has tried to perfect everything so that he gets even better,” explains Maier. Sander lost his looseness. “You then arrive with 37 nutritional parts, you still need a mental trainer and that and that,” says Maier. Sander simply got bogged down. “At some point the focus will be away from the sport. Because the outside area, where you think that will help me, takes up so much space.”
Sander feels the “killer instinct”
What’s still missing? The body language? At tactical things? Or is it a material defect, as former ski racer Felix Neureuther recently suspected? “Sometimes we miss a bit of the killers. In sport you need those who have the character to suppress this risk and are only focused on the result,” says Maier. The 62-year-old doesn’t talk about individual athletes, but the description seems to fit Sander quite well.
At least at first glance. Because Sander definitely feels this will, this stubbornness. “For me, it will never look like one or the other spectacular driver. But I feel nervous and this killer instinct,” says the veteran.
In order to continue writing the book of German winter fairy tales, the cerebral Sander needs not only the absolute competitive spirit but also the necessary inner peace. He has both – that’s clear since Cortina. Perhaps the homely hotel vibe brings out this explosive mix in France again.