Here is the real "Sabo" Gross: "Finally I put into competition what I do in training". Sala: "I'm at 50% with my back"

The Val di Fassa, fifth in Garmisch, analyzes his great race which brings him back close to a World Cup podium after more than three years. Even the Brianza smiles, albeit suffering, while Vinatzer is in full crisis.

Wednesday 4 January 2023 4 minutes reading time

After Tobias Kastlunger's 10th place on his debut in Val d''Isère, Italy in the slalom took over the night in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, as it hadn't managed to do in Campiglio. In a very particular race given the track conditions, but which in the end sees all the greats up front, Stefano Gross and Tommaso Sala adapt very well to the situation, respectively 5th and 6th in the third specialty race of the season which, however, it is still black for Alex Vinatzer, on his third consecutive fork (he is now 22nd in the world starting lists, a big problem), and for Giuliano Razzoli himself who is moving away from the top 15 of the WCSL (essential, just look at what happened today in the 1st round). Stefano Gross, on the other hand, returns to the 30s after so much suffering, in the top five over 3 years after the last time, when he took a surprise 3rd place in Val d''Isère, author of a perfect second heat to earn 21 squares and even dream of the 13th podium in CdM. “We needed an injection of confidence - “Sabo” told fisi.org post-race - I'm skiing fast in training, today I was able to demonstrate it also in competition. It was a particular situation, but seeing how I managed to complete the first heat, I told myself that I couldn't miss the opportunity to do a good second one. Too bad about the last intermediate, because there I left those tenths that could have been worth the podium. The best time in the second heat gives me great confidence and now come the tracks that I like best and where I will try to repeat myself". In fact, 8 years ago Adelboden gave him his only victory in the World Cup and it will be the stage for the next appointment on Sunday. “I'm very happy with the result, a little less than my back - commented Tommaso Sala - I'm trying to recover, but I wasn't able to train and I competed under painkillers. It's still better than Campiglio, but I've only recovered 50%. Today I had a good start, I lost something in the central part of the first moto and then I had a good finish. In the second I told myself it's do or break. I'm happy with my continuity and I'm super excited for the next races, Wengen and Kitzbuehel in particular. Last year I didn't believe in the possibility of getting on the podium, this year I'm already believing in Madonna di Campiglio”.

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