Andorran Skier Puig Drops to Fifth in Paralympics Downhill Training
Roger Puig finished fifth in the second downhill training at Cortina d'Ampezzo Paralympics after testing new lines, with small mistakes costing him.
Key Points
- Puig tested new lines, held third through first three splits but lost time with final-stretch errors, 0.21s off third.
- Robin Cuche (Switzerland) first, Arthur Bauchet (France) second, Aaron Lindström (Sweden) third.
- Track softened from icy to slushy under sun; third training session cancelled.
- Puig praises Olympic Village facilities and course's enjoyable layout ahead of Monday's downhill race.
Roger Puig, the Andorran para-alpine skier, finished fifth in the second official downhill training session at the Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Paralympics on Saturday, dropping from third place in the opening run the previous day.
Swiss racer Robin Cuche topped the timesheet again, ahead of France's Arthur Bauchet in second and Sweden's Aaron Lindström in third. Puig tested new lines on key sections of the course during the session. He stayed competitive through the first three splits, holding third position, but small mistakes in the final stretch cost him time, leaving him 0.21 seconds behind Lindström.
The track posed ongoing challenges, with intense sunlight further softening the snow after an initial icy surface in the first training. Organizers cancelled the third session scheduled for Sunday.
In Friday's opening run, Puig took third behind Cuche and Bauchet on a demanding layout that shifted from hard ice to soft snow under strong sun. Despite some errors, he reported positive feelings. He noted the course felt less technical and twisty than in previous events, making it more enjoyable, and anticipated crews would salt the surface to firm it up.
Puig also highlighted the team's arrival at the Olympic Village two days earlier. He praised the facilities, services and dining options, adding that their somewhat remote bungalow required extra walking—which he saw as a bonus for warming up and getting fresh air.
The consistent top-five finishes point to strong form as Puig prepares for his third Paralympics, with the downhill competition starting Monday.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: