Home hero Kriechmayr crowned Kitzbühel king as race thrills

Austrian Vincent Kriechmayr produced one of the very finest performances of his already illustrious career to win the coveted men’s World Cup downhill race in Kitzbühel on Friday.

Shrugging off some of the worst of the conditions, not to mention the hungry expectations of a skiing-mad nation, Kriechmayr pushed to the limit and sent Austria wild.

“For an Austrian downhiller it is everything,” Kriechmayr confirmed after finishing the famous Streif in a time of 1:56.16.

After the season’s standout speed skiers, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde and Marco Odermatt were both caught out by the historic and awe-inspiring track, the relatively unknown Italian Florian Schieder took full advantage of improving conditions to snatch a shock second after starting in bib No.43.

Meanwhile the in-form Niels Hintermann narrowly prevented the USA’s Jared Goldberg from also grabbing a first ever Audi FIS World Cup podium place. A winner on Tour last season, Hintermann was four-hundredths of a second quicker than Goldberg, whose fourth place represents a first ever top-four finish in 146 World Cup starts.

But ultimately, the day was all about an Austrian who finally triumphed in one of his country’s most anticipated sporting events of the year.

“It’s the most important downhill race of the season,” a visibly emotional Kriechmayr said in the finish area with 40,000-plus of his compatriots cheering on.

“Everybody wants to win here,” he added.

Battling fog and fresh snow, the 2021 downhill and super-G world champion was in a class of his own. Balanced and in-control he flew through the Mausefalle, the 85% incline overjump, and down the Karusell, the 180-degree turn through which skiers have to endure as much g-force as Formula1 drivers.

And still Kriechmayr had the power to record the fastest final sector time as he finished 0.23 seconds clear of Schieder.

“I tried everything. I pushed more than 100%,” said the winner, whose previous best finish in his country’s blue ribband event came in 2020 when he ended second behind the great Matthias Mayer.

That was the last time an Austrian had triumphed in Kitzbühel and after Mayer’s surprising retirement earlier this season, Kriechmayr knew all eyes were on him, including those of the man who has won here a record-breaking five times.

“Very stable, very good technique. He was very solid, no big mistake(s), pushing hard on the top and keeping the speed until the finish,” the great Didier Cuche said of Kriechmayr.

For Schieder, a man with just 10 previous top-30 World Cup results in his entire career, it is also a day he will never forget.

“It’s not a normal thing for me,” said the skier whose previous best ever World Cup downhill finish was 13th. “I’m really, really excited my run was really good.

“Of course, this podium is helping for the future. I need to continue (improving) my skiing and then we will see where it is going.”

Kilde, leader of the season standings, nearly denied them all. The big Norwegian was quickest of all down the final third of the course but a desperately close call on the famous Traverse – during which he was on one ski – cost him the chance of a fifth win of the season.

He and the rest of the best will gather for Saturday’s second Kitbühel downhill, a race that will mark the final chapter in one of skiing’s greatest careers.

Four-time overall downhill World Cup champion and the reigning Olympic men’s downhill gold medallist Beat Feuz will race for the final time. Be sure to tune in.