Mancuso fastest in Cortina training run, Cook sixth

Julia Mancuso in Cortina (GEPA/Harald Steiner)

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – As forecast, the weather was simply amazing Wednesday (Jan. 22) in the Dolomites. Cold overnight temperatures allowed the 55 racers to train on a perfect Olimpia Delle Tofane piste. After finishing eighth in the only downhill training run last week, American Julia Mancuso proved she is getting stronger as the Olympics draw near. The Californian clocked the best time of the training run in 1:38.87. Not far behind was Italy’s Johanna Schnarf, just 0.06 of a second off the pace, while the winner of last week’s training, Maria Hoefl-Riesch, took third at 0.29 seconds adrift.

With a 12th-place finish in the St.Moritz giant slalom as her season best thus far, Mancuso has had an unusual winter, but seems now to possibly be back on track.

“It was a great run, so I hope to take it into the race,” said the 29-year-old. “My run wasn’t perfect everywhere, but I was really going for it. My confidence it definitely getting better and better. Even though we have had canceled races, I have been spending a lot of time on my boots skiing. That’s the most important for me to feel really comfortable and confident on my equipment. I’ve just been able to free ski around. I’ve put in the hours I needed, so it feels good.”

Mancuso’s teammate Stacey Cook, who has also struggled to find her form this season, finished a promising sixth.

Current leader in the downhill standings, Maria Hoefl-Riesch has already won two downhills this World Cup season and could equal her personal best from the 2010/11 season on Friday (Jan. 24) in the first of the two downhill races scheduled this week.

Action kicks off tomorrow with the first super G race of the week starting at 10:15 CET.

Release courtesy of FIS

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