Mayer fastest in second trianing run in Val Gardena / Gröden

The second downhill training run on the Salsong course in Val Gardena / Gröden was marked by unstable visibility conditions, forcing the jury to interrupt the race many different times.

Nevertheless, the Olympic champion Matthias Mayer from Austria laid down the fastest time in 1:58:64. Mayer suffered a season ending injury (vertebra fracture) on the Salsong two years ago, but his performances last season (won a training, finished 4th of the super-g and 17th of the downhill) as well as today’s run, prove that he’s ready to fight on the Val Gardena course again. Together with his early season shape, which already brought him a second place in the Lake Louise downhill, Mayer will be a serious contender for both races this week-end.

As yesterday, two so-called “attacks from the back” sit in 2nd and 3rd place. Canadian Benjamin Thomsen, who already recorded a World Cup podium at the pre-Olympic downhill back in 2012 came into 2nd place from bib n°68! Otmar Striedinger also found his way to the podium finishing in 3rd place after he started with bib n°55. The 26 years old Austrian could celebrate one World Cup podium so far, with a 2nd place in the super-g in Beaver Creek in 2013.

The Salslong will now get ready for the super-g to be held tomorrow at 12h15, before switching back to downhill mode on Saturday. In between, on Friday evening, the Organising Committee will celebrate the 50th birthday of the World Cup race in Val Gardena / Gröden, with an impressive show to be broadcasted live on TV.