Corinne Suter built steadily on her breakout season last winter to claim her career-first World Cup win in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria, clocking a time of 1:18.79 on the shortened Downhill track (Cloud cover and thick fog forced race organizers and FIS officials to lower the start to the Hot Air Jump).
The 25-year-old skier was second and fifth in the two previous downhills this season, both held at Lake Louise, Canada. Attacking on an overcast day, Suter mastered the Altenmarkt course despite clocking only the seventh-best speed of 125 kph (78 mph) at the fastest check.
"After the World Championships, it took a lot of pressure off of me. Since then, I can ski again with a lot of fun and I think this is the reason why I am so fast at the moment", Suter noted following the win. "It’s a special feeling also to wear the red bib. It’s always a dream to win the big globe. But I’ll take it step by step and now race by race, so we will see what happens at the end".
Nicol Delago, of Italy, finished the day in second place. with an impressive run from bib 17 following a series of delays due to weather conditions. Finishing just 0.29 seconds off the winning pace, Delago secured the third World Cup podium of her career and second this season.
Suter’s Swiss teammate Michelle Gisin was third, 0.98 back, two weeks after also placing third in a World Cup slalom, showing once again her great shape in all the disciplines she is competing on.
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