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www.skiworldcup.org/Lake
Louise 07.12.2002
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Women's
Downhill - Race report
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| Report
I
Race
results
I SWC DH I Overall
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Carole
Montillet ready for victory in Lake
Louise |
The
reigning Downhill Olympic Champion Carole
Montillet seems very close to celebrate
her very first victory in a World Cup
downhill.
The 29-year-old French, 2nd here back
in December 2000 behind Italy’s
Isolde Kostner, who suffered a bad crash
in Wednesday, dominated the last practice
run held on the “Olympic Run”
by fair weather conditions.
On Thursday, the skier from Villars-de-Lans
beat by 23/100 of a second America’s
Jonna Mendes and by 55/100 of a second
Canada’s Mélanie Turgeon.
Germany’s Hilde Gerg, one of the
contenders too for the downhill World
Cup this winter, clocked the 4th best
time ahead of the surprising Croatian
sensation Janica Kostelic.
Isolde Kostner, who fly back home this
week-end, may have to wait until next
January before coming back in the tour.
Since this last timed trial influenced
the start-order for the first race on
Friday, Carole will wear bib # 30 and
start behind all the othr favorites.
Montillet enjoys competing in Lake Louise,
especially this winter since the hard
run is pretty demanding. She strongly
believes in her chances to grab her
first World Cup victory since her first
success in a Super-G in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
in February 2001.
“The course is really fast and
slick, much more challenging as in the
past years” she admitted.
“You need to fight all the time,
which is fine for me. I feel comfortable
and pretty confident too. My Rossignols
glide smoothly and I should be able
to achieve a strong performance if I
ski as well as in training”.
“Since the competition begins at
10.AM, we decided that it made more
sense to start behind the other because
the visibility should be much better
one hour later as the sun will shine
higher”.
“The conditions should remain fair
and good for the late starters which
was not the case for the men’s
competition because it’s not as
warm as last week, so to star behind
should not be such a problem”.
“It’s fun to be in this position,
it boost my confidence and I feel fine.
I go for the best”.
Gerg and Switzerland’s Corinne
Rey-Bellet, who achieved a nice comeback
last week in Aspen’s Super-G where
she reached the top-10, are also serious
candidates for a top spot on the first
downhill podium of the season .
Gerg, a four-time winner in downhill
in her career, didn’t hide her
ambition to clinch the downhill Cup
this winter after her success at Aspen
in Super-G. The absence of Kostner will
certainly make it easier for the veteran
from Lenggries who plans to end her
career next spring to get married.
She reached several times the podium
here in downhill and Super-G and she
seems on a roll
Two
downhill races are planned for Friday
and Saturday and a Super-G on Sunday.
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| Patrick
Lang |
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