Parpan/Lenzerheide, March 10th, 2005 - Renate Goetschl captured her fourth downhill World Cup title in dominating the last downhill race of the season held on the demanding “Silvano Beltrametti” course in Parpan, near Lenzerheide. The 29-year-old Austrian beat by more than half a second France's Ingrid Jacquemod while Germany's Hilde Gerg came in 3rd at 67/100 of a second.

Goetschl, who already clinched that Crystal Globe in 1997, 1999 and 2004, scored a total of 567 points during the entire season, beating Gerg by 72 points. Michaela Dorfmeiser is 3rd and USA's Hilde Gerg, who crashed again in the final downhill as last year in Sestriere is only 5th, almost two hundred points behind Goetschl.

Janica Kostelic, who tied for 4th place with USA's Julia Mancuso, regained some points on Anja Paerson in the Overall standings. The Swede, only 8th, has now a lead of 45 points on her before Thursday's Super-G
race.

A happy Renate

Renate Goetschl was more than happy to secure her fourth downhill title with her fourth victory of the season - last January, she won three race in three days in Cortina d'Ampezzo before finishing 3rd at the World Championships in Santa Caterina. “This downhill Cup was very important to me and I wanted to achieve a great race in this nice course,” she said after hugging her mother in the finish line. “It's certainly one of the most challenging courses I know and I hope we are coming back here soon. I had a smooth yet also an aggressive run and I nailed the difficult part
pretty well.”
“I'm really pleased by my season so far and it's great to win a second downhill Cup in a row. It will help me to be relaxed tomorrow at the start of the Super-G ad I'll do my best to have another strong run.”

Ingrid Jacquemod, who won her first race last January in Santa Caterina, was pleased to get back on the podium after a series of disappointing results in recent weeks, especially during the World Championships in Santa Caterina where she finished far from the medals. “It was important to me to confirm my win and I'm glad I did it finally won this tough course,” the skier from Val d'Isère said. “I knew I had the potential to reach another podium but I didn't manage to achieve another strong run. This great result also helps me to pass the limit of 400 points so I'll be able to ski in all events next winter. I aim to find back my form in Super-G and giant slalom. Jacquemod is now 12th in the Overall standings - she would be happy to remain among the best 15 !

Gerg who fought hard to clinch her first downhill Cup after winning twice he Super-G title, finished for the sixth time on the podium this winter - yet not good enough to achieve her dream. “I have been really consistent this winter, but Renate was just much better, I have to be pleased with the outcome of this season, I know I did my best,” said the 30-year-old-veteran from Lenggries who won the slalom at the 1998 Olympic Games.

Janica Kostelic regained 18 points

Janica Kostelic managed to regain 18 points on Anja Paerson in the Overall World Cup standings. Yet the skie from Zagreb was not totally pleased by her achievement on this demanding course. “4th place is not bad, but I'm not happy at all by my skiing today, I was expecting more from myself on this demanding course,” she said afterwards. “I was relaxed at the start and I knew that Anja didn't clock a good time, but once I was on the course, I was not able to cruise as smoothly as I wanted. The course was not in great shape, there were lots of ruts and bumps.”

After this race, Anja Paerson is now leading the Overall standings with 1273 points ahead of Janica who has 1228 points. Renate Goetschl is 3rd with 1074 points. Janica is 4th with 387 points in the downhill standings - her best performance ever in those standings. Except once - in the first race in Lake Louise - she always ski into the top-10 in downhill this year and scored points in all her races which was not the case in the technical events!

This technically demanding course should fit Janica's skills in tomorrow's Super-G which could be quite decisive for the issue of the season. “We are racing after the men, so I hope the course will not be in too bad a shape after their competition and that the temperature will be colder too” Janica also said. “I can ski better on a hard and well prepared course.”

In Thursday's Super-G, Michaela Dorfmeister will give her best to successfully defend her lead in the standings. She has an advance of 22 points on Goetschl, the defending Super-G champion from 2004.
Paerson has a chance to reach the podium - but her main goal will be to increase her lead in the Overall standings.

Patrick Lang