Maria Riesch has changed her mind?

Interview with the German athlete leading today's training on the course "Olimpia delle Tofane" - Tina Maze, one hundredth separates her from the leading time - Tomorrow new snow is expected

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Date:	17/01/2014
Place:	Cortina d'Ampezzo

CORTINA D?AMPEZZO – 16^th January - An opening training run usually has a relative value, but it becomes important when the favourites of Saturday’s downhill race are the top-three ranked today. 

This morning the three fastest ladies in Cortina were Maria Riesch, Tina Maze, only one hundredth second behind, and Anna Fenninger.

They are in fact the leading figures of this season. But there are other outstanding athletes that could clinch a victory as well, as Tina Weirather, Marianne Kaufmann-Abderhalden who won the Val d’Isère’s downhill in December, Elisabeth  Goergl, the Austrian that gained the highest step of the podium last week in Altenmarkt, and Lara Gut, impressive lead at the beginning of the season in Beaver Creek.

Maria Riesch in first position during the training from start to finish, except of the third split time when Tina Maze was in advantage. However, with a time difference of one hundredth of second, it’s impossible to foresee the winning podium.  

Tina Maze strongly wants to stage a comeback. But the real favourite of Saturday’s downhill is the World Cup leader. And the news is and that’s what we hope, it could be that Maria has changed her mind. She tells us that she is not sure to  stop with the ski races after Sochi’s Olympics or the finals of Lenzerheide in March. Anyway, the German athlete confesses that racing in all four disciplines is hard and very demanding, and she risks for example to be beaten by the 11 years younger Mikaela Shiffrin from Vail who instead is not training  for downhill and superG races.

Weather conditions were excellent and sunny today on the course “Olimpia delle Tofane”  during the downhill training,  but according to the forecast new snow is expected. It could be a problem for tomorrow’s training scheduled at 10.30am but also Sunday’s superG race, event that could actually be rescheduled next week-end. Mother Nature is expected to deliver 15-20 cm of snow.  

CORTINA D?AMPEZZO – 16^th January - An opening training run usually has a relative value, but it becomes important when the favourites of Saturday’s downhill race are the top-three ranked today. 

This morning the three fastest ladies in Cortina were Maria Riesch, Tina Maze, only one hundredth second behind, and Anna Fenninger.

They are in fact the leading figures of this season. But there are other outstanding athletes that could clinch a victory as well, as Tina Weirather, Marianne Kaufmann-Abderhalden who won the Val d’Isère’s downhill in December, Elisabeth  Goergl, the Austrian that gained the highest step of the podium last week in Altenmarkt, and Lara Gut, impressive lead at the beginning of the season in Beaver Creek.

Maria Riesch in first position during the training from start to finish, except of the third split time when Tina Maze was in advantage. However, with a time difference of one hundredth of second, it’s impossible to foresee the winning podium.  

Tina Maze strongly wants to stage a comeback. But the real favourite of Saturday’s downhill is the World Cup leader. And the news is and that’s what we hope, it could be that Maria has changed her mind. She tells us that she is not sure to  stop with the ski races after Sochi’s Olympics or the finals of Lenzerheide in March. Anyway, the German athlete confesses that racing in all four disciplines is hard and very demanding, and she risks for example to be beaten by the 11 years younger Mikaela Shiffrin from Vail who instead is not training  for downhill and superG races.

Weather conditions were excellent and sunny today on the course “Olimpia delle Tofane”  during the downhill training,  but according to the forecast new snow is expected. It could be a problem for tomorrow’s training scheduled at 10.30am but also Sunday’s superG race, event that could actually be rescheduled next week-end. Mother Nature is expected to deliver 15-20 cm of snow.