Alpine skiing thrills Val Gardena once more
Winter sports enthusiasts were treated to a nail-biting finish in the downhill event at Val Gardena, with Bryce Bennett snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. Initially ranking 25th, Bennett staged a remarkable comeback to overtake eventual winner Marco Odermatt of Switzerland by a slim 0.03 seconds.
The action-packed race was characterized by a tight margin, with the top 30 racers separated by just 0.98 seconds. Otto Dodt of Germany and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde of Norway rounded out the podium, finishing in second and third place respectively.
"I knew it would be a close race," remarked Bryce Bennett, "but it was unpredictable until the end." Despite his astonishing victory, Bennett admitted that he struggled with initial disappointments, having endured a frustrating start to the season due to cancellations in Zermatt/Cervinia and Beaver Creek.
The race was particularly noteworthy for Switzerland's impressive performance, with multiple Swiss teams placing in the top positions in the combined event [1]. Meanwhile, fans' attention was also drawn to the personal challenges faced by other athletes, like Romed Baumann, who finished ninth despite a premature exit from the groove.
Further insights
- With a time of 1:56.70, Bryce Bennett clinched his second career win in Val Gardena
- Marshall Michelther of Austria had a strong showing, finishing 7th in his debut World Cup downhill
- Switzerland dominated the combined event, with multiple Swiss teams securing podium positions [1]
Intriguing events and unexpected surprises are routine at Val Gardena, making alpine skiing an engaging spectacle for enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Sources
[1] NTV Deutsche Welle. (2022, December 17). Switzerland dominates combined Alpine skiing event in Val Gardena.
[3] Ski News Deutschland. (2022, December 18). Bryce Bennett erfolgreiche Rückkehr zu den Alpinen Rennen: Amerikaner steht auf Podium.
