The Secret Behind Gut-Behrami’s Energy Saving Mode: “She Plays These Cards Brutally Smart”

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Lara Gut-Behrami is not surprised. “At 32 you don’t recover as quickly as you did at 20,” she said weeks ago. This knowledge does not make it any easier to deal with the stress at the World Cup. Or is it?

Because growing older has one advantage: you know yourself better. “Lara knows what she needs – and especially what she doesn’t need,” counters Alpin director Hans Flatscher. What he means by that: Gut-Behrami tries to waste as little energy as possible on things over which she has no influence.

No unnecessary energy is wasted

That wasn’t always the case. In the past, the Ticino native often got caught up in sideshows and lost focus. These times seem to be over. An example? She did not complain that after the races in Mont-Tremblant (Ka) she had to start again in St. Moritz GR a few hours later after a long journey and jet lag.

She also remained calm in Zermatt USA, during the Matterhorn races, which were characterized by postponements and cancellations. “There are other drivers who also have a lot of experience, but they cannot use it in such situations. Lara makes it – that’s probably crucial,” says Flatscher.

“The knee just complains”

Will Gut-Behrami be able to do the same in Kranjska Gora (Sln), where the next giant slalom is scheduled for Saturday? Recently, after her 6th place in Lienz (Austria), she said that this caused her knee problems and that she was happy that she could start at all. “I have to do everything I can to get my knee to heal again. It’s not a serious injury, but I’ve been dealing with it for a few years; the knee gives me trouble every now and then,” she said.

“It is normal that your knee is occasionally irritated after so many years at the World Cup,” says head coach Beat Tschoor.

Gut-Behrami doses consciously

Gut-Behrami was recently able to rest her knee for a few days. They were also necessary because she has a huge ten-race program ahead of her next month. In addition, there are numerous downhill training courses in Zauchensee (Ö), Cortina (It) and Garmisch (De).

This is exactly where Flatscher gets involved: “Lara knows exactly that she does not have to ride the last peak during the first training, for example. She can step up when it becomes crucial. She plays all these cards brutally smart.”

Source : Blick