The ski mountaineer from Lenggries came fourth in the World Cup sprint in Ponte di Legno, equaling her best result so far.
Ponte di Legno/Lenggries – The race analysis took place in a relaxed, almost grumpy round – with a cup of mulled wine.
National coach Florian Steirer had little to complain about the performance of his model student Tatjana Paller, because the ski mountaineer from Lenggries equaled her best World Cup placement from April this year - fourth place in Flaines - at the Sprint World Cup in Ponte di Legno.
Race under light balloons
The 27-year-old made her World Cup debut in Ponte di Legno two years ago - with 14th place, and somehow the good mood with the numerous fans on the course, which was lit up as bright as day, inspired the Isarwinkler;
the sprint in Ponte di Legno is traditionally held in the late afternoon under floodlights and illuminated balloons.
"I like the atmosphere in the cozy mountain village," says Paller.
However, when things got serious and Paller switched to competition mode, the cosiness was abruptly over.
Already in the prologue, the three-time German champion posted the second fastest time of all 34 starters, although she hadn't given it 100 percent and thought to herself: "Cool, something could really work today!"
Energy right from the start
The track layout with narrow diamond passages and tight hairpin bends forced Paller to change tactics during the heats, as overtaking on the climbs and descents was hardly possible.
The otherwise rather reserved starter packed her energy right from the start in expansive gliding and powerful use of the poles.
"I don't know how it is that I can suddenly start running so fast," Paller was surprised at himself.
"Apparently the training is really taking off."
As the undisputed winner, the Lenggrieserin finished both quarter- and semi-finals;
this even with the fastest time up to that point.
"After that I was highly motivated and was already flirting with the podium," reports Paller.
Accordingly, she started the finale quickly from the starting grid of six.
But unlike the previous rounds, the lead didn't last.
“The break between the heats lasts almost an hour.
But there were only 20 minutes between the semifinals and the final.
In the short time I can't get the lactate out of my legs, it kills me," Paller explains the drop in performance.
Because competitor after competitor passed the Isarwinkler, who finally tackled the descent in fifth place.
The leader, the Italian Giulia Murada,
I've never been so close to the podium."
Tatyana Paller
Tatjana Paller drew a very satisfied conclusion after equalizing her best World Cup result so far: “I've never been so close to the podium.
With my time from the semifinals, I would have even finished second.
That's a bit annoying."
Individual is not Paller's thing
Tatjana Paller didn't get going at all two days later in the individual competition on the Presena Glacier.
In the high alpine terrain between 2500 and 3000 meters, the athletes had to deal with fresh snow, freezing cold temperatures, numerous hairpin bends and many climbs and descents.
“Somehow my body doesn't handle the altitude so well.
I don't feel fresh up there.
Right from the start I noticed that it wasn't going to be much," she explains in 24th place. "Individual is just not my thing." The sprint specialist wants to show off her winning mentality again at the next World Cup in Morgins, when it's neck and neck again goes over the course.