Surprise downhill podium in Val Gardena/Groeden

Heading into today’s downhill in Val Gardena/Groeden Norwegian skier, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde was the favourite afterwinning the last two downhills in Val Gardena and yesterday’s super-G.

But Kilde had an unlucky landing on one of the jumps which led him to miss a gate. Giving upstart Bryce Bennett (USA) the window to claim his first downhill World Cup victory.  Over the last two events in Val Gardena/Groeden, Bennett scored the most World Cup points on the Saslong, which saw him crowned winner of the Dolomites Val Gardena Südtirol Ski Trophy.

Otmar Striedinger (AUT) came in second place, with 0.14 seconds off Bennett’s pace. The last time Striedinger placed on a downhill podium was in 2020 in Val d’Isère (FRA).

Niels Hintermann will never forget the hill in Val Gardena/Groeden, as it was where he claimed his very first downhill podium. Hintermann was left speechless at the end of the race stating, that "last season was enormously complicated for me, physically and mentally, so today coming third feels amazing.”

The majority of speed skiers will have a break between Val Gardena/Groeden before heading to Bormio (ITA) to race in another downhill and super-G on the 28th and 29th of December.