Mikaela's return: "The best possible training after 10 days off, I'm very happy"

Shiffrin and 2nd place in Zagreb, very important for the World Cup after putting Covid aside ("after Courchevel I would still need rest but ... not like that"). Liensberger, back on the podium: "Incredible to have climbed there after that mistake in the 2nd heat".

Tuesday 4 January 2022 4 minutes reading time

Petra Vlhova to dominate the "Snow Queen Trophy" for the third consecutive time, but also a great Mikaela Shiffrin on her return, on the night in Zagreb that saw the slalom phenomena literally make a void on anyone, including the world champion Katharina Liensberger finished more than two seconds from the Slovak and 1 ”61 from the US. The World Cup leader, who remained so with 115 points ahead of Vlhova and 173 over Goggia, took home the podium number 115 in her career (and they are 52 in the last 56 slaloms disputed in the maximum circuit ...), after having breathed a huge sigh of relief yesterday, with the negativity at Covid that allowed her to return by losing only two races, those of Lienz last week. Fundamental in the race to the fourth crystal ball, Mikaela's great goal together with the Beijing Olympic Games: today Shiffrin is really liked, also because the bib number 7 (against Vlhova's 1) in the first heat really made the difference, with those 64 cents that he never recovered from his eternal rival. There are no regrets, however, on the part of the Colorado champion, in the statements made in the post-race to Ski Racing Media: “It is wonderful to be back after two weeks without competitions, I think I did a really good slalom - the analysis of Shiffrin - After Courchevel, the energy tank was empty, I still needed some rest and time ... I've had too much. Today I just thought about pushing, it was the best workout I could do after 10 days of nothing. I have to get back on track, it was a very big step forward ”. On the podium the greatest interpreters of the slalom, with Liensberger third after the second place in Lienz. Although not yet at the levels of last year, the splendid skiing of the Austrian who had disappointed in the first three specialty events is being reviewed. "It was surprising for me to stay on the track after what I did - he commented to oesv.at referring to the clamorous error at the start of the 2nd heat, ed. - I then thought about giving my best and trying to finish as strong as possible, but that it was enough to get on the podium is incredible and makes me happy ”.

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