Tina Maze exclusive: Mikaela Shiffrin and Aleksander Kilde ‘not unbeatable’, hails Dave Ryding’s ‘great story’

Four-time World Championship gold medal winner Tina Maze has told Eurosport that Mikaela Shiffrin and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde are not unbeatable ahead of the upcoming World Championships in Courchevel and Meribel.

Kilde meanwhile won back to back races in Wengen earlier in January and added another victory in the downhill in Kitzbuhel. He sits second in the men’s overall standings, with Shiffrin top for the women.

But speaking ahead of the championships, Eurosport expert Maze doesn’t feel as if the pair are unbeatable. She also pointed out that the Norwegians are looking particularly strong.

“I think the Norwegians are very well prepared, they have so many younger athletes coming through so they are really covered in terms of both the young and the experienced.

“Norway is really a land where they create such great skiers and such great athletes. While of course Switzerland is also present with all the athletes they have and, of course, Marco Odermatt. With Aleksander Aamodt Kilde there will for sure be this duel that will continue at the World Championships. And then Mikaela [Shiffrin] from the women’s side she’s been great, but I don’t think she’s so far ahead that is not reachable for the others, so it’s all open.

“I think they [Shiffrin and Kilde] are still humans so I mean they are not unbeatable but at the moment they are the best skiers I would say but still, when they go out of the gate, I didn’t see a level so far ahead of everyone else.

“I’m talking about differences that are less than a second of an advantage. But it’s all about those hundredths of a second and when it’s all about that then it is possible that Kilde and Shiffrin are both on the highest level possible but also the others are pretty high too. So it’s not that the others can’t finish first.”

Maze also had kind words for British star Dave Ryding, who continued his love affair with Kitzbuhel by finishing second after winning at the legendary venue the year prior.

“With Dave Ryding, I hope he will get some good ice and he will be able to ski like he was skiing at Kitzbuhel.

“Dave is amazing. I mean, with his age, he’s still a young guy with this love of skiing propelling him. I had a chance to speak with him at Madonna di Campiglio and it’s really a great story that he has and I hope he can figure it out in the world championships as he figured it out at Kitzbuhel.

“He keeps his moves fresh, which is impressive. So even though he’s not the youngest he can be there on the podium.”

Maze won a total of nine medals at the World Championships during her illustrious career and she revealed to Eurosport the key to success during the event.

“The key I think to planning for the World Championships is making sure you are fresh.

“So before the World Championships, we always took a little break to prepare physically. Of course technique stays the same but it’s coming to the World Championships with this freshness that is key and can help elevate your skiing.

“This is the key that a lot of people have difficulties finding and this is really hard to do if you don’t know how to do it.

“And who you have around you is key. I have some coaches who knew exactly how to prepare me for the World Championships. After I won silver at Val d’Isere my preparation then helped me to win eight more.”

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