Lara Gut-Behrami wins her third Crystal Globe
The crystal keeps on coming for Lara Gut-Behrami at the second weekend of finals in Saalbach. Finishing in seventh place in the final Super-G on Friday, the Swiss athlete wins the Crystal Globe in this discipline as well - her third after winning the overall World Cup and the Giant Slalom. Kajsa Vickhoff Lie podiums in third place for the third time this season. In the men's Super-G, Vincent Kriechmayr finishes the season in second place overall.
"Lara Gut-Behrami was well aware of her position at the start, and took what was there for the taking because she is consistent in sticking to her plan. She does that perfectly. She also has the right cards in her hand for the Downhill event, but a lot can happen in this race. The bib numbers have a big influence. I hope that she has a bit of luck on her side and can make the most of it," says HEAD Racing Director Rainer Salzgeber. "Kajsa Vickhoff Lie has confirmed yet again that she belongs at the front. Over the next few years she will be an athlete who is competing for the Crystal Globes. For the team, the results were simply brilliant. The situation was difficult for Vincent Kriechmayr with this bib number, but he skied an awesome race. With HEAD athletes second and fifth overall, we are also well-placed in the men's Super-G."
"This Crystal Globe is beautiful"
Seventh place in the final Super-G was sufficient for Lara Gut-Behrami to win her third Crystal Globe of the season. It is her fifth in this discipline following wins in 2014, 2016, 2021 and 2023. "This Crystal Globe is beautiful. The Super-G is a special discipline for me. The fact that I've been able to win this globe five times makes me proud," said a delighted Lara Gut-Behrami at the finish. "I always tried to go full speed. I knew it was going to be difficult for me on this kind of snow. At some point I would like to be at the front in these conditions as well."
Cornelia Hütter third in the Super-G World Cup
The Super-G season also ended well for Kajsa Vickhoff Lie. The Norwegian athlete bagged podium No. 3 of the season in third place - following her second place finishes in the Super-G races in Val d'Isere and Altenmarkt. Fourth and fifth place went to the Austrians Stephanie Venier and Cornelia Hütter. Ragnhild Mowinckel from Norway finished eighth, Ariane Rädler from Austria was tenth and Laura Pirovano from Italy finished in eleventh place. In the Super-G overall ranking, Cornelia Hütter, Stephanie Venier and Kajsa Vickhoff Lie finished third, fourth and fifth. "It was a cool Super-G season. Missing out in Cortina certainly hurt me the most, but otherwise there's nothing I can criticise about my effort. I really attacked the slope again in the last race," said Cornelia Hütter in summing up.
Vincent Kriechmayr second in the Super-G ranking
The men's final Super-G of the season was also held in Saalbach on Friday. Vincent Kriechmayr was the best HEAD World Cup Rebel in sixth place. The Austrian athlete finished second overall in this discipline. "I could have climbed another two or three tenths of a second today, but victory was difficult with this bib number. I managed to clock up several good placings this season," said Vincent Kriechmayr. Guglielmo Bosca from Italy, who finished the race in tenth place, was delighted to end the season in fifth place in the Super-G overall ranking. James Crawford from Canada finished in 14th place.
