Skies clear to help Austrians sweep super-G podium in Kvitfjell

Ortlieb is from impeccable ski racing pedigree – her father Patrick was men’s Olympic downhill champion at Albertville 1992 – and she won silver in the downhill at the recent World Championships. This was her second World Cup gold, having bagged a super-G in 2020 at La Thuile.

Ortlieb acknowledged how much conditions had played a part. “I was lucky today, I am sure that it was not fair for everyone,” she said. “It was unbelievable. I knew at the start the conditions were getting better and better.

“After Alice crashed, it got crazy slow on the top because of the heavy snowfall. When I went up on the lift I thought ‘wow it is snowing a lot’, but then it got less.

“I got an opportunity and I skied well. I am happy that I am here today. I thought, OK, let’s go and try. It was fun and a little crazy to see the green light at the finish. I was a little confused. But I got a good improvement from two days ago when I was skiing without confidence.”

Second-placed Venier was delighted to be part of the first all-Austrian women’s super-G podium since 2004. “The weather was on our side today, but I was feeling really good,” she said.

“I’m just happy for all of us. It was a really long time ago [that three Austrians topped a super-G race]. It feels crazy to share a podium with my teammates. It’s a little bit unbelievable.”

Gritsch concurred. “My racing was really cool,” she said. “I also had a great feeling in the super-G on Friday. I need to say that the weather was also a bit better when I came with the bib, number 26, but I wanted to go fast and it was really nice.

“Today the weather luck was on my side, but I used the chance. Three Austrians on the podium is amazing, really fun.”