Altenmarkt (Austria) (AFP)

The Swiss Corinne Suter won the descent of Altenmarkt-Zauchensee (Austria) on Saturday, signing the first victory of her career in the World Cup and forming an unexpected podium with the Italian Nicol Delago (at 29 hundredths) and his compatriot Michelle Gisin (at 98 hundredths).

After her good performance at Lake Louise in December (3rd in Super G and 2nd in downhill), Corinne Suter, 25, finally climbed the highest step, posting steady progress for her sixth season on the circuit.

After its 18th place in the World Cup last year, it points after this victory to 6th place in the general classification.

The race on the shortened course, interrupted by fog, also succeeded in the surprising Nicol Delago, 24, and Michelle Gisin, 26, who won ahead of favorites reduced to the role of extras.

The Austrian clan which intended to make sparks at home, in the country of Salzburg, placed five skiers between 11th and 15th place, including Nicole Schmidhofer, winner of the small crystal globe of descent last season, victorious of a descent from Lake Louise in December and who had not hidden his ambitions on this event.

Ester Ledecka, a snowboard specialist from the Czech Republic who caused a sensation by also winning a descent in Lake Louise, ahead of Corinne Suter, had to settle for an 8th place.

Immense favorite for a fourth consecutive big Crystal Globe, the American Mikaela Shiffrin, who announced at the beginning of winter to want to take part in more downhills this year, had skipped this speed test, just as she had declared forfeit for that of Val d'Isère in December, finally canceled due to weather.

The star of the women's circuit is expected for Sunday's combined at Altenmarkt (Super G and slalom) in a new duel with the Slovakian Petra Vlhova, her runner-up in great shape, who also dispensed from the descent.

© 2020 AFP