Third place for Höfl-Riesch in the Lienz slalom World Cup, securing a podium finish
As the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi approached, German alpine skier Maria Höfl-Riesch found herself in a promising position. Known for her versatility in multiple disciplines, including slalom, Höfl-Riesch was a formidable competitor in the World Cup circuit.
Performance in Lienz 2013
During the 2013 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup event held in Lienz, Austria, Maria Höfl-Riesch showcased her skill in the slalom races. However, specific details about her results in Lienz that year are not readily available. Regardless, it's clear that she was a strong contender in slalom events throughout her career.
World Cup Standings Going into the Olympic Year 2014
Entering the Olympic year of 2014, Maria Höfl-Riesch stood as a formidable competitor. Her consistent performance across various disciplines, such as downhill, super-G, combined, slalom, and giant slalom, placed her high in the overall World Cup standings.
- World Cup Rankings: Höfl-Riesch's presence in the overall World Cup standings was significant, as she often ranked high across various disciplines.
- Olympic Preparation: With several podium finishes in the World Cup already under her belt, Höfl-Riesch was well-prepared for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Her experience and consistent performance made her a strong contender for a medal.
Notable Results in Lienz 2013
While specific details about Höfl-Riesch's results in Lienz, Austria, in 2013 are scarce, other notable performances during the event include:
- Anna Fenninger's victory in the giant slalom held the day before.
- Christina Geiger's improvement from 12th place in the first run to eighth place in the slalom.
- Lena Dürr's unfortunate crash while aiming for a top-ten finish in the slalom.
- Marlies Schild from Austria and World Champion Mikaela Shiffrin from the USA outperforming Höfl-Riesch in the slalom.
The Road to Sochi 2014
Despite Höfl-Riesch's strong World Cup performance and Olympic potential, Karlheinz Waibel, head coach of the DSV speed skiers, expressed concerns six weeks before the Olympics. None of the DSV speed skiers had yet qualified for the Olympics in Sochi.
Other notable performances during this period include Tobias Stechert's disappointing 47th place in the downhill in Bormio and Susanne Riesch's mistakes in the slalom in Lienz, which caused her to drop from 16th to 22nd.
Despite these setbacks, Maria Höfl-Riesch secured her 76th World Cup podium with a third-place finish in the slalom in Lienz. Her father applauded enthusiastically and raised his fist several times after her first run. Her younger sister also caused joy with her first run in the slalom event.
As the Olympics in Sochi approached, it was clear that Maria Höfl-Riesch was a strong contender for a medal. However, the current performance of the DSV speed skiers, including Höfl-Riesch herself, gave Waibel reason to worry.
In the World Cup standings of 2014, Maria Höfl-Riesch's consistent performance across disciplines such as downhill, super-G, combined, slalom, and giant slalom placed her high in the overall rankings, showcasing her versatility in sports. Moreover, during the 2013 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup event held in Lienz, Austria, Höfl-Riesch demonstrated her prowess in slalom races, even though specific results from that year are not readily available.
