World Cup in Bormio
Ski racer Sarrazin celebrates surprise victory
Cyprien Sarrazin at the departure in Bormio. photo
© Marco Trovati/AP/dpa
The Frenchman Cyprien Sarrazin shows a splendid ride on the Stelvio. The Germans clearly miss the top ten. The Austrian Marco Schwarz falls and is transported away by helicopter.
French ski racer Cyprien Sarrazin secured a surprise victory in Bormio.
The 29-year-old won on the infamous Stelvio by just nine hundredths of a second ahead of the Swiss overall World Cup winner Marco Odermatt. The Canadian Cameron Alexander came third (+1.23 seconds). Best German at the traditional World Cup in Italy was Andreas Sander from Ennepetal in 19th place (+2.91 seconds).
There were several high-profile retirements on one of the most demanding slopes in the entire racing calendar. Sander’s teammate Romed Baumann was eliminated at the first gate, and top Norwegian downhill skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde also didn’t make it to the finish. After Austrian Marco Schwarz fell, the race was interrupted for several minutes. The 28-year-old was transported away by helicopter. The other two German starters, Simon Jocher and Josef Ferstl, took places 21 and 39. Thomas Dreßen was missing due to a virus infection.
“I’m still not in top shape,” said Sander, who had a serious fall during training in Val Gardena about two weeks ago. There was more in it for him, explained the 2021 World Cup runner-up. Overall, he was “not that dissatisfied.” Baumann commented on his early exit that he had big plans. However, with the first swing he came onto the inside ski and therefore had no chance of staying on the course.
Meanwhile, Sarrazin rode his first downhill triumph “as if from another planet,” analyzed expert Felix Neureuther on ARD. The visibly moved Frenchman himself said it was a “big moment” for him.