Italy’s former Olympic champion Sofia Goggia overcame a “few flaws” to claim her first downhill win of the season in Austria on Saturday.
The 31-year-old edged Austrian Stephanie Venier by 0.10sec after making up for her errors on the flat part of the slope.
Goggia admitted the run was far from perfect with “a few flaws at the top” but it was enough to seal an 18th World Cup success in the discipline, and second win of the season after the St Moritz super-G.
Austrian Mirjam Puchner shared third place with Italy’s Nicol Delago who returned to the podium after four years, at 0.34sec.
Four-time holder of the speciality globe, Goggia has been on the podium in 10 of the last 12 World Cup downhills but had not won in her favourite discipline since February 2023.
At the finish line on Saturday, she let out a cry of relief when she saw that she was in the lead.
The former Olympic downhill champion had never been on the podium before in the Austrian resort, where she had bad memories of two falls, including a head injury in February 2011.
“It was a good, solid race. I wasn’t precise in two passages, but I always kept my footing,” Goggia said.
Delgado was delighted with her return to the podium.
“It hasn’t been an easy time for me,” she said.
“I’m very happy. I believe that the path taken is the right one. Thanks to those who have always been close to me.”
