Alpine skiing – Sara Hector offers herself a recital, Lara Gut-Behrami a beautiful comeback

Updated8 January 2022, 14:20

The Swede takes the lead in the overall giant standings thanks to her victory in Kranjska Gora. Gut-Behrami climbs from 17th to 5th place overall.

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We thought she lacked benchmarks following a dull first round, cooled by her forties, diminished by her lack of training. Lara Gut-Behrami reacted like a champion to Kranjska Gora. Only 17th in the morning on the initial route, the Ticino seemed transcended on the second route of the giant, staked by her trainer. Less drifting, more confidence and a performance that would have paved the way for the podium if it hadn’t been so late in the first run.

Lara Gut-Behrami eventually landed 5th, although she did not appear completely satisfied with herself in the finish area. Promising for a return to competition. She leaves behind Mikaela Shiffrin (7th) and Petra Vlhova (15th), among others.

Andrea Ellenberger nibbles 17 rows

A Swiss lift can hide another. Qualified with the last time in the second heat, Andrea Ellenberger illuminated the first part of the race of the followingnoon. The Nidwalden was 30th, she finished 13th, less than half a second behind Lara Gut. Between the two, Michelle Gisin. Great Swiss hope of the morning, the Obwaldenian seemed less comfortable followingwards. She finished 10th.

The real upheaval of the day is at the top of the hierarchy. On fire for several weeks, the Swedish Sara Hector accumulated a fourth podium in a row in giant. His second victory, above all, in this time frame. With the influence that this brings to the ranking of the discipline: Mikaela Shiffrin (who had missed the last race because of the Covid) is only 2nd, largely exceeded by Hector and his 46 points ahead.

Shouting to give herself courage as she walks through each door, the Scandinavian left a very big impression in Slovenia, a few weeks before the Games. Tessa Worley had however done just by grabbing the head and leaving Sara Hector alone in the starting gate with her doubts. There was not the least, finally, this one having pushed the Frenchwoman to 0’96. Impressive.