Aleksander Aamodt Kilde paced around the target area and watched anxiously to see if anyone would knock him off the throne after all. Ultimately, however, it was enough for the Norwegian ski racer to take first place in the penultimate Super-G of the winter and thus also to win the small crystal globe early for the overall winner in this discipline. The 29-year-old triumphed at his home race in Kvitfjell on Sunday ahead of Canadian James Crawford and Austrian Olympic champion Matthias Mayer. As always, only one of the Germans made it into the top ten this weekend. This time it was Vice World Champion Romed Baumann in tenth place.
The veteran is just as qualified for the Super-G season finale of the 25 best athletes as his teammates Andreas Sander and Josef Ferstl, who finished 13th and 24th. Dominik Schwaiger dropped out, but was allowed to start in the final week in Courchevel, France, in mid-March with Baumann and Ferstl in the downhill. Simon Jocher, this time 29th, could not qualify in any discipline.
“It was a forgiving conclusion,” said Baumann about his performance in the Super-G. In the downhill on Saturday, which the South Tyrolean Dominik Paris had won, he was only 17th. Since Ferstl had provided the tenth for the German bright spot. It took quite a while to process his fall in training in Kitzbühel in mid-January and also the Olympic Winter Games in China, which were disappointing for the German speed men, said Ferstl. “You always have to mark the tough ones,” said the 33-year-old. In fact, he had to struggle both mentally and physically.
Sander, who was second in the downhill world championships just over a year ago and who disappointed once again on Saturday in 33rd place in this difficult season for him, seemed a little more confident after the Super-G on Sunday. He is now looking forward to the last race in Courchevel with great motivation, said the 32-year-old. Individual trips to the front are still possible for the Ennepetaler at any time. Just like his teammates, he is currently not at the top of the world in the long term.
