The start is at 2,235 meters, over 3.2 kilometers it goes 944 meters in altitude at a maximum speed of 140 km/h down to the finish in Courchevel Le Praz. The average gradient is 30 percent (for comparison, the Streif: 27 percent), a maximum of 58 percent (Streif: 85 percent). At the World Cup final, Vincent Kriechmayr won the downhill ahead of the Swiss Marco Odermatt and Beat Feuz (no longer active).
First 40 seconds of driving
Puncher: “In addition to a good start, relatively flat, a few waves and right-hand bends are crucial in the upper part. The pace is quite fast, so I have to find the line and hit it well and know the waves exactly where they start. If the waves start to bother me, I’ll lose the speed I desperately need in the transition to the flat.”
Excitement before men’s downhill in Courchevel
After the women’s downhill in Meribel, the men’s final speed decision will be held in Courchevel on Sunday. Surprisingly, Carinthian Marco Schwarz was the fastest in the final training session.
“The combination of pace, waves and right turns that are typical of the entire descent will also be important at the top. Drivers with poor right turn have a problem here. You also have to be prepared for changes in light and shadow, although the light is better than below. The first jump, around ten seconds following the start, goes a long way. You have to be prepared for that.”
Middle section from Super-G start
Puncher: “The middle part starts with a flatter piece, where I live off the speed of the first part. Getting the momentum is very important. Mistakes are not allowed, take the jockey jump well, jump nicely into the terrain. Then it starts to get darker and darker. For difficult curves like the Mur de la Bux, one of the most difficult. It is dark and hangs heavily. If it pushes me down too far, I lose a lot of pace for the next area.”
“There I have to find a good mix between letting the skis go and making direction. However, the part is not set particularly rotating. You have to drive to the limit and choose the direct line. Due to the darkness, a lot of courage is required here. The bad light, the changing shadows, stretch from here to the finish. The first starting numbers have it even darker in certain passages.”
Entrance and target slope
Puncher: “There is first a double right, similar to the Super-G, followed by a left turn, which is the actual entrance to the finish area and is extremely important. You are strongly driven down and have to try to have enough altitude. At the same time you have to be patient because the goal gap is very large. The timing has to be perfect in order to be able to take full momentum to the finish line, because things continue to flow smoothly. A lot of time can be lost there.”
slope conditions
Puncher: “Basically good, currently not so aggressive, rather hard and icy. Some complained regarding grip problems in training and were surprised by the slippery slope. But the track has already slipped because there is and was a lot of movement on the slope. And a few goals may be difficult to score, but that’s not worth mentioning.”
General conclusion
Puncher: “A descent worthy of the World Cup, not easy. With quite difficult technical corners, but above all with long corners that always hang to the left because of the right-hand twist of the track. Specified by the terrain, very difficult to drive. Hitting those right turns well is crucial. If the ski scratches with every turn, I lose time from top to bottom. That has to go well.”
“You can’t afford to make any mistakes because the terrain is hilly and there aren’t any extreme gradients where I might build up speed once more following making mistakes. So you live from the overall drive, everything has to go through nicely. Overall, the descent feels fast for the runners, coupled with diffuse light you have to overcome it.”
driver at an advantage
Puncher: “Technically very good skiing combined with downhill qualities is required. Make tight turns, pull the momentum out nicely in the long turns, let the skis run and don’t lift too much up. You have to anticipate waves, catch them well, follow them and play with the terrain. And you need courage. For example (Aleksander Aamodt, note) Kilde brings all this with him, although the hand injury at the start, which is important, might hinder him.”
Chances of the ÖSV men
Puncher: “The track suits Kriechmayr, especially when it stays hard and the basic speed is right. (Marco, note) Schwarz is in top form, he might absolutely surprise if he had the skills. He doesn’t have enough downhill experience to see him as a favourite. (Daniel, note) Hemetsberger might accommodate his willingness to take risks. I think without the mistakes from the Super-G we have a good chance of a medal. But the competition is big, bigger than on any other downhill run.”
