Kriechmayr: Our last glimmer of hope in the Super-G in Bormio!

The pressure on Austrian skiers is increasing! On Sunday December 31st the highly anticipated Super-G race takes place in Bormio and hopes rest heavily on the shoulders of Vincent Kriechmayr. After a disappointing start to the season without an ÖSV victory and only three podium places in 13 races so far, this competition is the last chance for a sense of achievement in 2024, as you can see at oe24 reported. The 33-year-old Upper Austrian already had a small ray of hope with an 8th place in the downhill classic in Bormio, but the competition is fearsome: last year's winner Marco Odermatt, who demonstrated his impressive form, is once again considered the top favorite.

The Super-G differs significantly in its execution from the classic downhill. There are no training runs here – athletes must inspect the course on race day and figure out how best to tackle it for themselves. How sportlexikon.com explained, the dynamic weather situation represents an additional challenge because the conditions can change drastically in a short period of time. Maximum concentration and the best technical skills are required, as every source of error can make the difference between victory and defeat.

The challenge of the Austrian athletes

The Austrian team is challenged, the speed team in particular is currently being criticized. After 19 races without an overall victory since Manuel Feller's success, it's time to finally rekindle the skiing fever. In addition to Kriechmayr, other talents are also being relied upon, while proven stars such as Lukas Feurstein are missing due to injury. In the peak phase of the season, shortly before the crucial home World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm in February, the pressure is on the athletes to avert the crisis and return to the podium with strong performances.