Almost perfect World Cup start – second places for Keller and Flückiger
The start to the home World Cup in Lenzerheide could hardly have been better for the Thömus maxon Team. Alessandra Keller achieved her first podium finish in a short track World Cup this season with an amazing second place. Mathias Flückiger doubled up in the men’s race and also took a strong second place! With this, Flückiger took the lead in the discipline World Cup ranking.
The women’s race remained open for a long time. An elimination race developed in the large leading group. Alessandra Keller was present at all times and was always in the first positions. Until three laps before the end when Jenny Rissveds attacked that a gap opened up. The 26-year-old Keller immediately took responsibility and reacted, but Rissveds was out of reach. In the final lap, Alessandra Keller played out all her class and took a strong second place with and thanks to her offensive riding style.
“The definitive proof that I am back at the top of the world”.
“I’ve had several fourth places this year. That I make it into the top three today in Lenzerheide makes me very happy. Today is another proof of my consistency and that I am definitely back at the top of the world”, a happy Alessandra Keller summed up her performance at the finish line.
The men’s race it went very similar as the women’s race. For a long time a very large group stayed together and only in the last rounds five riders broke away. Just like Alessandra Keller, Mathias Flückiger also rode a flawless race – always in the front positions. Unfortunatly Vital Albin had a bad start and needed a long time to into the race flow.
New leader and confident for Sunday
Despite several attacks, no rider was able to break away decisively and so it came to the sprint of a group of four. The Swiss champion Filippo Colombo had the best end for himself. Colombo won his first World Cup of his career. Flückiger was narrowly beaten and finished a strong second and took the overall lead in the short track discipline World Cup. Vital Albin finished on a rather disappointing 25th place for him.
“It was a close sprint and I was close to the victory. But I am really satisfied with how I felt. That gives me a lot of confidently towards Sunday,” said last year’s overall World Cup winner, already with the focus on Sunday’s cross-country race.