Third victory on the Streif for Beat Feuz. The 34-year-old is back on top of the Downhill podium for the first time this season. With three wins he is now level with Dominik Paris (3), Franz Heinzer (3), Karl Schranz (3), Luc Alphand (3) and Pirmin Zurbriggen (3). Only Didier Cuche (5), Franz Klammer (4), have won more times the Hahnenkamm Downhill. He has collected seven Downhill podiums in Kitzbühel. Last season, after finishing in second place four times in Kitzbühel (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020) Beat Feuz claimed victory in both Downhills held in the Streif.
Feuz has claimed a men's record 45 World Cup podiums in the Downhill. He finished in the top three six times on the last seven Downhill events held in the Hahnenkammrennen.
The Emmentaler has been the best and, above all, the most constant Downhill skier in the World Cup for years. He claimed 13 Downhills. He has won the Downhill Crystal Globe in each of the last four World Cup seasons. He became the second male skier to win four successive Downhill titles, after Franz Klammer from 1974-1975 to 1977-1978.
"We wanted to hit back here in Kitzbühel after Kriechmayr's victory in Wengen and that worked well with Odermatt and me. I'm very pleased that I actually came down without any mistakes from top to bottom", said Feuz.
Talking about his relationship with Odermatt Feuz said "It worked well with Marco and me. It's good for both of us. He rushes down the Streif without thinking too much, I'm a little more concerned about that".
Marco Odermatt finished in second place only +0.21 seconds behind his teammate. He claimed two podiums in the Classic Downhills of Wengen and Kitzbühel after finishing second in his maiden World Cup appearance on the Lauberhorn Downhill.
"I am very happy with my performance. And especially with Beat on the podium, his third win here, just unbelievable”, said Odermatt.
Odermatt also emphasizes the mutual benefit in his relationship with Beat Feuz, "It's nice that he's not the only one who can give me tips and that we both benefit from each other".
Starting with bib number 1, Austrian Daniel Hemetsberger finished in third place +0.90 seconds behind Feuz. It's his first podium in the World Cup after finishing in 4th place in Wengen and Bormio.
"It's an absolute dream, here, at home, on the hardest Downhill racecourse in the world, to get my first podium finish. It's the greatest feeling I've had whilst skiing. I'll definitely need a few days to realize that", said Hemetsberger.
Once again, Matthias Mayer was a split of a second from landing on the podium in Kitzbühel. In both Friday’s and today’s Downhill race, the Austrian missed out on 3rd place by 0.04 seconds.
Despite today's sixth place, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is still in the lead in the Downhill standings with 445 points, eight points ahead of Beat Feuz, and 43 ahead of Austrian Matthias Mayer. Marco Odermatt is now in fourth place with 401 points.
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