The battle for the downhill globe has just gotten a whole lot more intense, with three skiers now separated by a mere 26 points. Federica Brignone, Sofia Goggia, and Cornelia Hütter have been trading blows all season, and their rivalry was on full display in Kvitfjell. But it wasn’t just these three who stole the show – American Breezy Johnson and Friday’s breakout star, German Emma Aicher, also made their presence felt. And in the end, it was Aicher who came out on top, scoring her first World Cup victory in a thrilling downhill run.
The American Lauren Macuga finished a close second, just 0.03 seconds behind Aicher, while Cornelia Hütter took third place, +0.19 off the pace. With 300 points still up for grabs, the competition is far from over. The downhill event got underway with a blistering run from Elena Curtoni, but her time was quickly eclipsed by Ilka Stuhec, who has been finding her form after a long injury layoff. However, it was Macuga who really set the tone for the day, posting a time that would become the benchmark for the rest of the field.
As the top skiers took to the course, the tension began to build. Cornelia Hütter, yesterday’s winner, couldn’t quite match Macuga’s pace, finishing 0.16 seconds off the lead. Federica Brignone, meanwhile, struggled to find her rhythm on a track that doesn’t particularly suit her style, ending up +0.30 behind Macuga. But the real drama came when Sofia Goggia took to the course, giving it her all in a bid to close the gap on her rivals. Unfortunately, Macuga’s final stretch proved too much for her, and she finished +0.33 off the pace, with Pirovano slotting in between her, Brignone, and Hütter.
The Rise of Emma Aicher
As the day drew to a close, all eyes were on Emma Aicher, the young German skier who has been making waves in the downhill scene. Born in Sweden, Aicher has been on an upward trajectory, and her second-place finish yesterday was no fluke. With the best Swiss skiers, Gut and Suter, struggling to find their form, Aicher seized the opportunity to make her mark. And what a mark she made – her explosive downhill run left the competition in her wake, and she took the top spot on the podium. It’s been a long time since Germany has had a downhill winner, but Aicher’s name is now etched in the record books alongside the greats.
A Tightening Grip on the Globe
With only 200 points left to fight for, the battle for the downhill globe is reaching its climax. Federica Brignone still holds the red bib, but her lead is dwindling – she’s now just 16 points clear of Hütter, while Goggia is 34 points back. Meanwhile, Macuga has surged up the rankings, moving into fifth place, just 154 points off the lead. In the overall standings, Brignone is pulling away, with 1,094 points to Lara Gut’s 867 and Zrijna Ljutic’s 753. But with so few points left to play for, anything can still happen in this gripping season.
