Irresistible in Linz, Tessa Worley heads to the Olympics

At her best, Tessa Worley won the World Cup giant Linz (Austria), the 15th victory in her career, ahead of Slovakia’s Petra Velhova and Sweden’s Sarah Hector, just over a month before the Olympics from Beijing (4-20 February). ). )

Worley achieved her first victory this season in the absence of the American Michaela Schiffrin, and the Swiss Lara Gut Bahrami, which was positive for Covid-19, and the public, after running the race behind closed doors.

Best time in the first round, the French managed to thwart the second road traps (the fourth time) contested between shadow and light to maintain a 30/100 lead over Vlhova and 38/100 in front of Hector who signed for the third podium in a row. After my Courchevel race (the second and then the first last week).

Eighth in Sölden (Austria) at the end of October, fifth and then fourth at Courchevel, La Bornandine is gaining momentum this season as a giant and making his discipline flag speak to win his first race of Kronplatz (Italy) in January.

«I am very happy with this race, I was able to do two strong warm-ups. In Courchevel I felt like my skating was there but I couldn’t get to the podium. I hope to continue in 2022Worley said.

«Maintain this state of mind»

Two-time world champion in the major, the Frenchman was able to show off her condition before pre-competing in just over a month at the third Olympic Games, where she never won a medal.

«As for the games, I hope to maintain that state of mind that allows me to free myself, that’s how I want to deal with the competition, to be at the beginning of the game, whether to win or lose at the end. These running positions are a good workout every time. But I know how snowboarding can be hits and misses. I just keep getting these good feelings and good emotions.»

With 15 successes with the World Cup Giants, thirteen years after his debut in Aspen (US) in November 2008, Worley was the third most winning skater in the discipline’s history after Swiss Frien Schneider (20) and Austrian Annemarie Moser-Brühl (16).

«The numbers are good, but above all, I am glad to still carry that torch, to produce a high-performance skate after so many years.and hung. Behind their leader, Bleues Coralie Frasse-Sombet and Clara Direz ranked 13th and 20th. In addition to slalom between the gates, skaters must dodge Covid-19 at this time, while cases on the track have been building for a few weeks.

Giant reigning world champion Lara Gut Bahrami has been absent since the Val d’Isère stage, and US Olympic champion Michaela Shiffrin announced on Monday that she has tested positive. Poland’s Marina Jacinica Daniel, ranked seventh in the world before the race, also announced on Monday that she was affected, while New Zealand’s Alice Robinson (off the track) and Austrian Katharina Linsberger (25) returned on Tuesday. After all, Schiffrin retained the lead in the general classification by 93 points over Italian Sofia Goggia, who was 12th on Tuesday. The slalom is scheduled for Wednesday.