Cornelia Huetter stuns Elena Curtoni by 0.01s to end long Austrian drought and win super-G in Norway

ByPete Sharland

Updated 03/03/2023 at 11:10 GMT

The Austrian women’s team has been waiting a long time, nearly a year in fact, to taste success in a World Cup race. But now their long wait is finally over as Cornelia Huetter stunned Italy’s Elena Curtoni to take the victory by just 0.01s in a dramatic women’s super-G race at the Norwegian resort of Kvitfjell on Friday morning to set up a great speed weekend.

It had been nearly a year since an Austrian women had won a World Cup race but Cornelia Huetter has ended the drought, beating Elena Curtoni by just 0.01s in the women’s super-G at Kvitfjell on Friday.

When Katharina Liensberger won the slalom at Are on March 12 2022 she could never have known that it would be nearly another 12 months before one of her compatriots won another race.

But a brilliant run from Huetter beat out Italy’s Curtoni by just 0.01, leading to jubilant celebrations from the Austrians, and utter dismay from Curtoni.

Kvitfjell

'Unbelievable!' - Ortlieb reacts to 'lucky' win in Kvitfjell super-G

00:02:25

|

05/03/2023 at 11:50

Tessa Worley went out first and as is so often the case, it was hard to tell whether she had put down a competitive time.

However are more and more skiers went out it became clear that the Frenchwoman had fielded a time that was going to be tricky to beat.

Worley was eventually beaten when Curtoni flew down the track to take the lead by 0.33s.

The Italian team were missing Marta Bassino, who had to return to Italy following the tragic passing of her sister-in-law, but Federica Brignone gave the team another boost with a time just behind that of her compatriot Curtoni.

• ‘Doesn’t look good!’ – Ginnis admits straddle during men’s slalom
• When will Shiffrin break Stenmark’s alpine skiing World Cup record?
• Goggia wins Crans-Montana downhill in tricky conditions to close in on crystal globe

Brignone could have overtaken Curtoni but a couple of slips in the latter half of the run cost her a chance of the win but she stood in silver position after seven skiers although one skier later they were split by Gut-Behrami.

Then came American star Shiffrin, who was looking to not only tie Ingemar Stenmark’s legendary record of 86 World Cup wins but also seal the overall globe.

But despite seeing green lights in the early splits Shiffrin couldn’t quite match Curtoni’s late-run speed and she had to settle for third behind Gut-Behrami.

'Will have to wait another day' - Shffrin misses out on record 86th win in Kvitfjell Super-G

It seemed as if Curtoni all but had the win sewn up, as super-G globe leader Ragnhild Mowinckel failed to match the pace.

But then came Huetter, who kept up with the pace and just about edged out Curtoni.

- -

Stream the 2022-23 Alpine Skiing season live on Eurosport and discovery+

Kvitfjell

'It's criminal!' - Goggia not happy after conditions dramatically change for later racers

00:01:28

|

05/03/2023 at 11:45

Kvitfjell

Ortlieb wins Kvitfjell super-G in stunning fashion as Shiffrin waits to match Stenmark

05/03/2023 at 13:50

Kvitfjell

'There's disbelief!' - Ortlieb stuns everyone by taking super-G win in Kvitfjell

00:02:08

|

05/03/2023 at 11:16