(Kvitfjell) Vincent Kriechmayr kept his hopes alive in the race for the men’s super-G World Cup title on Sunday, winning the penultimate event of the season.
The Austrian beat Canadian Jeffrey Read by 0.17 seconds and closed the gap in the discipline standings with leader Marco Odermatt to 81 points.
There is only one race left: a home race for Kriechmayr in Saalbach on March 22.
Odermatt would have clinched the title with a first or second place, but the Swiss shared third position with Italian Dominik Paris, 0.19 seconds behind the winner.
” I am very satisfied. In Kvitfjell, a lot of things can happen, Odermatt said. It was very tight. I’m happy and as for Vince, he delivered the goods. »
Odermatt extended his lead in the general classification to 918 points ahead of Cyprien Sarrazin. The Frenchman left this weekend’s races due to a calf injury.
Odermatt has been on the podium in 14 of the last 15 super-G races and won the discipline’s title last season. He must finish 13e or better in the final race to win the globe again.
Kriechmayr was the super-G world champion in 2020-21.
PHOTO ALESSANDRO TROVATI, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vincent Kriechmayr
He went wide in a corner and lost time midway through the race, but he gained a decisive advantage in the lower section of the course.
It was the ninth career super-G victory for Kriechmayr, who also has nine downhill victories.
Three years ago he won gold in both disciplines at the world championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Kriechmayr finished second in Saturday’s downhill on the same track, won by Niels Hintermann. The Swiss finished 48e Sunday.
Read earned his first career World Cup podium, a day after compatriot Cameron Alexander finished third in the downhill. On Sunday, Alexander placed fifth.
“There was a lot of anticipation and desire for this result,” said Read, a native of Canmore, Alta. It’s a really good feeling. I was very inspired by my teammate Cam yesterday. »
The World Cup heads to the United States for two series of technical races — in Palisades Tahoe, California, next weekend, and in Aspen, Colorado, on April 1.er to March 3.