TNT Sports
Rienda the contender
By
Published 11/02/2006 at 12:02 GMT
Marie Jose Rienda-Contreras may not be amongst the firm favourites for glory at Turin but Eurosport commentator John Clark believes the Spaniard is one to watch. Clark nonetheless thinks that it would take a brave man to bet against Croatia's Janica Koste
Eurosport
Image credit: TNT Sports
Rienda is hitting fine form ahead of the Winter Games and secured a double in back-to-back world cup giant slaloms at Ofterschwang this month.
The 30-year-old from Granada beat and tied with rival Anja Paerson during her fine display in Germany last weekend.
Despite her recent success she trails the Swede by one hundred points in the overall giant slalom standings and will be ranked as an outsider behind Paerson and Kostelic for the event on Friday 24 February.
But John Clark is not purturbed: "Look out for Rienda. She is a super-good skier. She's really athletic and her ultra-modern GS technique is perfected to a tee.
"She may be less strong that Anja Paerson, but precision and timing can prove just as valuable in a big competition."
The Scot also believes that for all her brilliance Paerson "has tended to crack when under pressure this year. But like Kostelic, anything is possible for her."
Asked whether Kostelic could repeat her historic accomplishment of nailing three gold medals and a silver this year, Clark was near-certain of the prospect:
"Oh definitely, she's a monster in competition. Just look at her record in big events. I won't be betting against her. But it's difficult to say in skiing..."
The 25-year-old will be the big favourite for the slalom and combined competitions, scheduled for Wednesday 22 February and Friday 17 February respectively.
Clark refuses to rule out a slalom medal for Finland's Tanja Poutiainen despite his claim that "she has seemed to lose focus a little this year, maybe in her attempts at having a higher appreciation in the speed disciplines."
Another girl to watch is Slovenian youngster Tina Maze "who could be another outsider in the giant slalom like Rienda the Contender."
Clark would like to see the bubbly 23-year-old win a medal but underlines her tender years, claiming that she "blows hot and cold too much".
Before the technical events there is the small matter of the demanding speed competitions for which Clark tips Austrian hegemony.
"Renate Goetschl has shown fine form all of a sudden and she won the Cortina downhill two weeks ago," he says. "She's a really good outside bet behind her compatriot Michaela Dorfmesiter."
30-year-old Goetschl currently lies in third position in the overall world cup standings behind Dorfmeister and Lindsey Kildow of the USA.
The downhill is the first event in the women's competition and takes place this Wednesday at San Sicario.
"But for Super-G, Dorfmeister has to be favourite," vouches Clark. "She's only been off the podium once in the last fifteen or so world cup races - that's phenomenal."
The Super-G is scheduled for Sunday 19 February.
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