Swiss Priska Nufer sensationally won the women’s downhill in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana from the Alpine Ski World Cup. The 30-year-old Priska Nufer drove with a second starting number and set the best time at 1:29.93 min, which none of the favorites managed to improve until the end of the race.
The victory is the first for the Swiss in her career, it is also the first time she has climbed the podium in over 140 World Cup starts. Priska Nufer hinted yesterday that she is ready for something big in front of her audience, taking fourth place in the first descent of the weekend in Crans-Montana.
Yesterday’s downhill winner Ester Ledecka from the Czech Republic also did an excellent ride and finished second on 0.11 sec behind the winner.
Sofia Goggia finished third on 0.23 sec behind Priska Nufer. Thus, the Italian fulfilled her big goal for today’s start – to finish ahead of her main competitor for the small World Cup in downhill – the Olympic champion from Beijing 2022 and a favorite of the local audience Corinne Suter, who finished fourth in four hundredths after Goja.
Petra Vlhova from Slovakia finished 15th and added new points in the battle for the Big Crystal Globe, catching on top with American Mikaela Shiffrin. Petra Vlhova scored 1,026 points, as did Shiffrin, who did not start in Crane-Montana.
Third is the Italian Sofia Goggia with 791 points.
Sofia Goggia remains the leader for the small crystal globe with 482 points and is close to winning a third trophy in the discipline. Corinne Suter is second with 407 points, ahead of the Austrian Ramona Siebenhofer with 311 points. With the two podiums in Crans-Montana this weekend Ester Ledecka climbed to fourth place with 303 points.
Women’s second downhill in Crans-Montana:
1. Priska Nufer (Switzerland) – 1:29.93 min
2. Ester Ledecka (Czech Republic) – 1:30.04 min
3. Sofia Goggia (Italy) – 1:30.16 min