Since her second downhill world title in February 2019 in Are (Sweden), her last success, "a lot of time has passed and so many things have happened" recalled the double downhill world champion (2017 before 2019 ).

We even have to go back even further to find his last success on a World Cup stage, in December 2018 on the super-G of Val Gardena.

"It's crazy, I'm very, very happy! During these years (without a win, editor's note), there were times when I wondered why I was doing this, it's great to be back", added the 32-year-old Slovenian after triumphing in a shortened descent due to strong winds in the upper part of the Olympia delle Tofane slope.

Slovenian Ilka Stuhec celebrates after her victory during the downhill in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, January 21, 2023 © Tiziana FABI / AFP

The Slovenian had won a lot in the years 2016 and 2017 but was then seen much less on the podiums due to a series of injuries.

She had already displayed her fine form on Friday by taking second place behind Sofia Goggia.

The queen of Italian speed, at the top of the classification of the specialty thanks to her four victories in the first five descents of the season, however fell again, like last week in St Anton (Austria).

Nothing serious for "SuperSofia", accustomed to crashes, but a bit of frustration in the finish area: "I'm disappointed because it was only a minor error, it's not something that will withdraw from the insurance … It was a mistake, that's it. But we are leaving quietly for tomorrow's super-G (Sunday, editor's note), "she told reporters.

Italian Sofia Goggia during the downhill in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, January 21, 2023 © Tiziana FABI / AFP

- Left fall -

Her compatriot Elena Cutroni consoled the muffled tifosi present in the stands by finishing third, 34/100 behind Stuhec.

But the other nice surprise comeback of the day is that of Kajsa Vickhoff Lie, second at 26/100 after leaving with bib N.30, far from the best.

Seriously injured in a leg in February 2021 in Val di Fassa, the Norwegian missed all of last season and was unable to compete in the Beijing Olympics a year ago.

Back on the White Circus since the end of 2022, she has only won the second podium of her career, two years after the first, celebrated as a victory with the management of her team.

Norwegian Kajsa Vickhoff Lie during the downhill in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, January 21, 2023 © Tiziana FABI / AFP

"It's incredible, I don't have the words," she rejoiced.

"A year ago, I had booked a trip to Skri Lanka to go surfing, just to be somewhere else during the Games because my leg still hurt too badly. I knew how to be patient, I'm proud of me and to be able to ski again without pain", she added.

The world N.1, the American Mikaela Shiffrin achieved a good seventh place after failing at the foot of the podium on Friday.

The Swiss Corine Suter, Olympic champion and reigning world champion in the downhill, withdrew "as a precaution" after her fall on Friday, including for the super-G on the program Sunday at the end of this weekend in Cortina, which will host the next Winter Olympics in 2026.

On the French side, only Romane Miradoli entered the Top-20 in extremis (19th at 1 sec 12/100) while Laura Gauché made a mistake the day after her best performance in the downhill World Cup (7th).

© 2023 AFP