Weide failed the World Cup general rehearsal-Gut-Behrami again

mood dampers for Kira Weidle, glimmer of hope for Thomas Dreßen.

After the German SkiTeam in Garmisch-Partenkirchen missed the encouragement at the second home race of the women, it can hope for unexpected additional performance from its best skier. When Weidle only took 24th place in the Super-G on the Kandahar on the Kandahar, Alpin boss Wolfgang Maier announced a possible comeback of his male star this week. This also increases Dremutens opportunities for the World Cup in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

hip surgery in November, rehab in December, return to skis in January - and a competitive comeback at home race in Garmisch this week? "We have had him in training in the last few days," said Maier from the German Ski Association ARD. "His first attempts on snow were very promising, he was painless."

The DSV plans to decide on Wednesday morning shortly before the first downhill training on the Kandahar whether the 27-year-old will drive. Depending on his feelings, it is conceivable that he only denies the training sessions, starts downhill on Saturday or at least becomes slower and is limited to a journey outside of the competition as a forerunner.

The turn of the world championship competition in the highest discipline is

eight days after departure in Garmisch. Dreßen should definitely be there, as Maier emphasized. Because even if teammates like Romed Baumann and Andreas Sander have been among the best in the world lately; Dreßen is "just our work in the departure," said Maier.

Before this season, Viktoria Rebensburg was no longer the main support of women-only Weidle remains the top driver in the speed range. While the Starnberg woman is one of the best athletes in the departure, the Super-G still lacks the quick swing.

That was obvious on Monday. She was 2.20 seconds behind the re-outstanding Swiss driver Lara Gut-Behrami, who had already triumphed in Kandahar on Saturday and celebrated her fourth victory in a row in this discipline. Second, the Slovak World Cup overall leader Petra Vlhova (+0.28 seconds) was ahead of the Austrian Tamara Tippler (+0.74 seconds).

"Super-G and Kira Weidle didn't fit together so well this weekend," said the 24-year-old. "I'm still in a good mood that it gets better." As a positive signal, she will take the last training week in front of Cortina that, in contrast to the Super-G on Saturday (23rd), she made only a big mistake. "The feeling comes slowly. It will be. The World Cup is getting closer."

In the Dolomites, she is one of the downhill favorites-involuntarily more since Saturday and the bitter failure of a colleague. After moving the race, the Italian Olympic champion Sofia Goggia fell on the way back to the hotel next to the route and suffered a shin fracture in the right knee. The winner of four of the five departures so far this season and thus the top favorite for gold at the home world championship is Cortina.

"In terms of sport, it is bitter, it is extreme," said DSV boss Maier when he was asked about Goggia's failure. "I would not say that this is an advantage for Kira, but a loss for sport."

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210201-99-254338/4

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