Lena Dürr showcased her talent in the Semmering slalom, finishing in second place behind Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic, who dominated the race. Dürr, who had previously missed a podium in Killington, excelled in both runs, trailing Ljutic by 1.75 seconds. Katharina Liensberger claimed third, while Emma Aicher rebounded from earlier struggles to secure eighth place. The upcoming women’s giant slalom in Semmering and the men’s Super-G in Bormio promise further excitement in the World Cup series.
Lena Dürr Shines in Semmering Slalom
Lena Dürr delivered an impressive performance during the slalom event in Semmering, securing a commendable second place. However, the race was dominated by a standout performance from the winner, who was unmatched on the course.
Previously, Dürr had narrowly missed a podium finish in Killington despite leading after the first run. This time, the 33-year-old athlete from SV Germering made sure to capitalize on her skills in Semmering. She clocked in as the second fastest during the initial run, just behind Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic, who had a strategic advantage as her father and coach set the course layout.
Strong Second Run and Future Aspirations
Dürr maintained her momentum in the second run, executing a near-flawless performance and finishing with a two-tenths-of-a-second lead. Unfortunately, her time fell short of clinching first place, as Ljutic showcased exceptional speed, finishing 1.75 seconds ahead of Dürr and securing the best times for both runs.
“Zrinka was brutal again in the second run,” Dürr expressed her admiration for the Croatian skier. While she felt content with her performance, Dürr acknowledged, “there is still a bit of room for improvement.” Meanwhile, Austrian skier Katharina Liensberger celebrated her third-place finish, trailing Dürr by 1.85 seconds. The 27-year-old had previously secured a second place at the season opener in Levi, impressively navigating the middle section of the slope and temporarily leading before ultimately being overtaken.
Emerging talent Emma Aicher stepped into the spotlight during the second run, shaking off her earlier difficulties. Despite having faced elimination in the giant slalom and expressing disappointment with her first run, Aicher rebounded strongly. With the fifth-best run time, she briefly took the lead, showcasing her skills despite a minor slip in the middle section. “It felt nice and rhythmic, and really fun to drive,” Aicher reflected positively about her performance, ultimately finishing in eighth place. The third German competitor, Jessica Hilzinger, just missed qualifying for the finals by one hundredth of a second.
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As the World Cup continues in Semmering, slalom specialists are set to shine. Be sure to catch the highlights of this thrilling race!
Additionally, the demanding Stelvio course in Bormio will challenge competitors in the men’s Super-G. Keep an eye out for the race summary!
The women’s giant slalom in Semmering is also on the horizon, promising excitement and competition. Stay tuned for all the updates!