– I think my father is happy. He was a little nervous, this was his first time as a course setter, 20-year-old Ljutic, who won with a huge 1.75, told Austrian television. She was the fastest in both races just to be safe.
It was the first Croatian women’s World Cup win since the legendary Janica Kostelic won in March 2006.
– I really wanted to attack, the track demanded this from me. I wanted to be very active and let the skis go on the easier parts, says Ljutic who really invested and managed to parry a miss in the middle of the second run where the day could have been ruined.
Hector had a podium chance
Sara Hector, sixth in the first race, skated steadily in the second race and could smile and wave in the finish line. Hector stood at the leader’s seat as long as she remained on the podium where she eventually finished fifth. The second run had been set by the Swedish coach Sascha Soria.
Anna Swenn-Larsson never got to ride the second ride. The 33-year-old was responsible for a serious miss after a back weight and was off the track, which cost several seconds. Swenn-Larsson finished 4.39 behind in 39th place.
The sovereign Mikaela Shiffrin remains at home in Colorado and cures the deep wound in the abdomen that required an operation. Petra Vlhova was on site in Semmering as a spectator and has started training after the severe knee injury where she pulled the cruciate ligament last season.