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Thomas Dressen produces historic World Cup downhill win

January 20, 2018

A shock result in the men's World Cup downhill event in Kitzbühl left a competitive field reeling as Dressen's became the first German World Cup winner since 2004.

https://p.dw.com/p/2rDQb
Kitzbühel Ski alpin Thomas Dreßen
Image: Reuters/L. Foeger

Dressen took advantage of a break in the clouds to claim an historic victory in a run widely regarded the most difficult speed event on the circuit.

On an otherwise overcast day, Dressen sped down the mountain side as the sun broke through to finish in 1min 56.15sec - ahead of Switzerland's Beat Feuz (1:56.35) and Austrian Hannes Reichelt (1:56.56). Austria's Matthias Mayer, the reigning Olympic downhill champion, and Vincent Kreichmayr both made major mistakes that cost them places on the podium.

"When I came through to the finish, I couldn't believe it, I thought they were kidding me. It's a surprise for me, too," said Dressen, whose helmet is emblazoned with the number 44, in memory of his father's initials.


Not only was it the 24-year-old's maiden World Cup victory, Dressen also became the first German to win the Kitzbühel downhill in 39 years and is the first World Cup winner since Max Rauffer in Val Gardena in 2004.      

This win comes at a particularly good time for Germany, who looked short of a star ahead of next month's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang after injury to slalom star Felix Neureuther.

jh/mf (AFP, dpa)