Just one day to go and not only the Wachau region is looking forward to the first ever World Cup at JAUerling. Also the Austrian team riders are psyched to race the first out of two home turf events within only two days.
“For sure, I'm more nervous than usual as this is a World Cup on home soil,” said 2011 Double World Champion Benjamin Karl.
“I'm pretty excited as the venue at JAUerling is only 40 minutes away from where I grew up in Wilhelmsburg,” added the Lower Austria born, who will try to win for the third time this season and thus to extend his World Cup lead.
However, pre-conditions are different compared to other races as there hasn't been any chance for training runs on the race slope due to the warm weather conditions in the JAUering area and thus soft snow conditions. But as the organizer managed to bring over tons of snow from the ski area Lackenhof am Ötscher, the event is save.
“We all start out of the blue. But since the chances are the same for everyone that also means I have good chances to win. I have checked the slope already and also the monster start ramp. I'm feeling very well, so I don't care about the snow conditions.”
The current World Cup leader will face some international competition in the battle for the title King of JAUerling as South Tyrolean Roland Fischnaller and Swiss veteran Simon Schoch have been doing well in the most recent races, too and are pretty likely to dig the permanently change of the course' steepness.
However, there are also some strong rivals in his own team. Besides long time competitor Andreas Prommegger also Sigi Grabner has shown a sloping form curve bringing home a third rank from Carezza, the last race in 2011
“I'm feeling good and I most recently had some pretty promising training days. I'm hungry for more after I placed third in Carezza. I'm very excited to be able to race in two races in Austria,” explained Grabner, who had secured the only Olympic Medal for Austria in 2006 (Bronze).
“Home soil events are always something special, especially JAUerling as the organizers await some 4,000 spectators for the night finals.”
In addition, some 1,200 school kids will cheer for their race board heroes during the qualifiers.
“Races with a lot of spectators are the best!”
But Team Austria is not only about its male members. The proud race board nation also has also other irons in the fire – on the women's side.
In the last races, Julia Dujmovits climbed her way up in the Parallel World Cup Standings sitting in second now with a mere of 310 behind of Swiss World Cup leader Fraenzi Maegert Kohli.
No wonder, that the Burgenland resident is ready for the real big thing: “I'm feeling very well prepared and willing to pedal to the metal. It's my goal to take over the lead and thus the Yellow bib,” said the 24-years-old race board lady, who will enter the race with a new helmet, feistily.
Check the course descritption by FIS Race Director Uwe Beier by clicking HERE!
