Austria’s speed men have also started the World Championship season with a victory. Six days after the slalom triumph of Marcel Hirscher in Levi, Max Franz with start number 1 surprisingly won the downhill in Lake Louise on Saturday ahead of the two South Tyroleans Christof Innerhofer and Dominik Paris. Vincent Kriechmayr was fourth and missed the podium by three hundredths.
Fischer driver Kriechmayr had fully supported Franz after his brand change. Too much? “No. I’m very glad he came to us. He helped us a lot with his feeling,” said Kriechmayr and concluded with a smile: “In former times people believed that I was so good. In reality, we simply have the best skis. Max is a good friend. But he doesn’t see that ski anymore,” he joked.
“Since I left the finish line, I haven’t seen my skis. I already have no idea where he is,” Franz replied laughing. “I’m excited, I’m shaking right. It’s really cool, because after the last few weeks it hasn’t worked as well as it used to. But we did everything so I could attack today. It’s nice when it comes up like this and happiness is on my side too. A really nice feeling.”