Alexander combined it big, Hintermann too: the double emotion of ex aequo triumph

The Canadian and the Swiss, surprise winners of the first descent of Kvitfjell, tell of a special day. Mayer, third, still believes in the specialty cup.

Friday 4 March 2022 5 minutes reading time

In Kvitfjell it is not the first and it will not be the only time that the podium is totally unpredictable, never like today but it must be said that the first of the two descents on Olympiabakken was, simply, a great opportunity also for those who started with higher bibs, on an “easy” but perfect track, without particular advantages linked to the improvement of conditions. And so, the triumph of Cameron Alexander, the 24-year-old Canadian who signed the surprise of the day, is more than legitimate, given that the one who won on a par with the young North American, Niels Hintermann, was among the favorites albeit, probably, behind him. of the various Kilde, Mayer, Feuz and Paris. First career seal for Alexander, who boasted a 10th right here in Kvitfjell two years ago, before seriously injuring himself in the first descent of the following season, breaking his cruciate, meniscus and tibial plateau in December 2020 on the “Oreiller- Killy ”of Val d''Isère. "It is an incredible result, but I have always believed in it and today I knew that the possibility of doing well, also considering the tests and conditions found here", the first words of the '97 class that brought Canada back to the top step. tall. Of course, the feeling with Kvitfjell is really special for him, not called up for the Beijing Games and winning a few weeks ago in the European Cup on Norwegian snow, for his first time on the continental circuit, but the talent of this boy is not in question. . Just as the growth of Niels Hintermann is not in question, twice third in the season between Val Gardena and Bormio, now constantly ahead of the downhill and the first seal in the queen discipline, more than five years after that victory, a bit fortuitous, obtained in the combined in Wengen: "During my race I immediately understood that it was a good test - the Swiss unveiled at the" Blick "- It was very nice, but I really did not expect the number 1 to light up on the scoreboard, I was hoping for a top 5. This is actually the first real victory for me in the cup, in 2017 I was very lucky. It's amazing how everything can fit together so well in one day, especially in a descent like this where the gaps are always very small ”. Matthias Mayer seemed to have found the performance for the encore of the success he obtained in Kvitfjell in 2020, but in the end he had to settle for third place, in front of his direct rivals for the downhill cup. Kilde remains the leader with 3 points on Feux, the Carinthian instead has to recover 28 with two tests from the end of the season, with the rematch scheduled for Saturday. "I expected that we were all close, but this is the right starting signal for the weekend - said" Mothl "to oesv.at - I died after the Olympics, then I concentrated again and it seems that I did well . Tomorrow will certainly be another battle over the cents, now every race counts and I believe in it ”.

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