Soelden, giant first heat: Bassino and Brignone first and second

From our correspondent Simone Battaggia

October 17
– Soelden (Austria)–

Italy immediately sends a strong signal. Marta Bassino and Federica Brignone are in first and second place in the first heat of the giant from Soelden (Aut), the first stage of the World Cup. On the Rettenbach glacier closed to the public as an anti-Covid measure, the Piedmontese finished in 1’09 “54, 58 faster than the Aosta Valley. The Norwegian Nina Holtmann was third at the moment, at 92/100. beyond the second for all the others: Michelle Gisin and New Zealander Alice Robinson – who won last year – are fourth at 1 “18. Sofia Goggia, down with bib 16, is eighth at 1 “76. Very heavy gaps, over two seconds, for two specialists like the Slovak Petra Vlhova – champion in charge – and for the French Tessa Worley. The second heat will start at 13. It will be traced by the blue coach Daniele Simoncelli.

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Good feelings

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Marta Bassino, who started with bib 2, completed a splendid heat despite poor visibility, especially on the upper section of the track. He skied lightly and precisely, without errors. “I’m happy, I found good sensations right away – said the Piedmontese, fifth last year in the overall World Cup standings -. I was doing well in training too. In the upper part you couldn’t see anything and even under the visibility it was quite flat, but come on it went well. Now I try to stay focused. ” “I am satisfied – said Federica Brignone, at the start with the red bib as holder of the World Cup and starting with the 6 -. Breaking the ice was not easy. Tough track, icy underfoot. Up to the middle of the heat I looked for a some support but I didn’t feel so good, then from the middle onwards I pushed as I wanted. Marta skied hard, she was a great reference point. We hope to do the second one too. Petra? She never starts hard at Soelden is strong from December onwards. In Soelden it is important to go well but the weekends will follow each other from December onwards, there is time. Here it is difficult for everyone “.

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