'Missing by a millimetre!' - Aleksander Aamodt Kilde with 'escape of his career' to avoid crash at Kitzbuhel downhill
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Updated 20/01/2023 at 14:21 GMT
There was an incredible moment at the men's downhill World Cup event in Kitzbuhel as Aleksander Aamodt Kilde somehow steadied himself to avoid a major crash into the nets. The Norwegian produced the "escape of his career" to both avoid the collision and stay upright to eventually complete his run, placing sixth. Stream the 2022 Winters Sports season on discovery+
'So close to a huge spill... he's got away with it' - Kilde with remarkable save in Kitzbuhel
Aleksander Aamodt Kilde narrowly averted disaster as he produced a jaw-dropping save at the men’s downhill in Kitzbuhel.
The decorated 30-year-old Norwegian didn’t seem in total control as he accelerated down the hill approaching the finish, with his turning ski bobbling on the traverse.
What followed was a heart-in-mouth moment as, limbs flailing, Kilde looked destined to crash straight into the nets at high speed.
However, he was able to pull off a stunning recovery, miraculously avoiding the nets and staying upright.
“Missing the fencing by a millimetre!” screamed Nick Fellows on Eurosport commentary. “How’s he got away with that one?”
Despite the recovery, Kilde could only manage a time of 1:57.13 which was only good enough for sixth place at the time, eventually slumping to 16th overall.
“So close to a huge spill, but just about got away with it,” Fellows added as everyone caught their breath in the aftermath.
“Millimetres! I have never seen anyone goes so close to the outside net there,” said Finlay Mickel on co-commentary.
“That is the escape of Kilde’s career,” concluded Fellows. “My goodness. He’s flying at around about 80 miles-per-hour. The Norwegians have their head in their hands expecting a huge crash!”
Vincent Kriechmayr powered to victory after a dramatic day of racing in tough conditions, clocking a time of 1:56.16.
It was good enough to secure victory from Florian Schieder (1:56.39) and Niels Hintermann (1:56.47).
However, Kilde was not the only rider to run into difficulty on the day as fellow Norwegian skier Henrik Roa suffered a nasty accident and broke his leg, having to be removed from the course via helicopter.
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