Another big win for Michael Walchhofer

Patrick Lang 15.12.2007 18:08 Uhr

After collecting four 2nd places in past years, Austrian Michael Walchhofer finally celebrated his first win in Val Gardena after a tremendous run down the treacherous “Saslong” course, allowed him to become one of the few top-specialists having won all five major “Classics” on the World Cup tour.

After other greats as Franz Klammer, Peter Wirnsberger, Franz Heinzer and Stephan Eberharter, the 32-year-old champion from Altenmark Zauchensee became the only fifth racer in the history of the World Cup to have triumphed on the five most prestigious and demanding downhill courses – Val d’Isère, Val Gardena, Wengen, Kitzbühel and Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

After nailing the upper part of the course thanks to his smooth and precise line, “Michi” overcame a small mistake in the first turn after the horrendous “Camel-Jumps” to finally beat by 18/100 of a second Switzerland’s Didier Cuche while USA’s Scott Macartney came in 3rd at 56/100, just ahead of Canada’s favourite Erik Guay.

Switzerland’s Ambrosi Hoffmann was 5th and Manuel Osborne Paradis an excellent 6th. Team America’s Bode Miller made too many errors in the lower part of the difficult course to have a chance to get another spot on the podium here, but his first intermediates times were again impressive.

Marco Buechel, a former winner here and 3rd in Friday’s Super-G, was a far 15th this time. Quite a disappointment for the veteran from Liechtenstein who certainly expected more as Hermann Maier, only 23rd.

The unexpected winner from last year, Steven Nyman, fell a few meters after the start after stumbling over one of his own poles.

Switzerland’s Silvan Zurbriggen suffered a bad crash at the middle of his run at the “Camel-Jumps” and severely injured himself at his left knee. He tore some ligaments at that knee and was flown home to undergo surgery. His season is unfortunately over before really beginning.

Michael Walchhofer was as happy as relieved by his second season victory in a row. The tall Austrian admitted afterwards that he was lucky to win at the end after the mistake he did after the “Camel-jumps” “I would say that I skied almost perfectly 4/5 of my run today, my ski rep prepared me amazing rockets for this race, I was incredibly fast in the upper part,” he explained at the press conference.

“My jump was fine but then I went out too large in the next big left turns and I had to fight hard to get back on the fastest line. It cost me some time so I was really happy to beat Didier Cuche by 18/100. Apparently he achieved an amazing race in the lower part. He is in great shape and I guess out duel is going to be quite exciting this season.”

“I’m proud to have put this race ion my list of great victories, it’s something really special to belong to that small group of great skiers having excelled on the most prestigious downhill courses. I felt the pressure before the race. I know everybody was excepting me to win here after finishing four times 2nd and win at Beaver Creek. I’m really pleased with my season-start, I can be relaxed now, I did my job. I like to help the Austrian team in winning races when my other teammates are in trouble. Now there are only two downhills left to win for me – Chamonix and Kvitfjell. Yet I also aim for other strong races in Wengen or Kitzbühel. The Hahnenkamm is for sure the main event for me this winter since there are now medal events scheduled in February.”

“But now I’m looking forward for a nice break with my family at home – we have more time to spend at home this year and this is really nice,” added the leader in the downhill standings.

Didier Cuche was not too upset to finish for the second time a row in 2nd place in that competition. “I did my best especially at the bottom of the course I took huge risks but Michael was really impressive in the upper part, he is just an amazing glider,” Cuche said. “I gave what I had in me and then I can’t have any regrets. You know it’s not easy to move at your limits two days in a row especially after having won the first day. I only went to bed at midnight after all the obligations and meetings and celebrations. I’m flying right now with the chopper to Alta Badia on the other side of the mountain so I also had to prepare my luggage. This is not easy at all.”

“I really like the final part of this course, it’s very challenging and exciting. One day I hope to be able to glide as fast as Michael in the upper part. He is so fast there. Yet I can’t complain, many racers will never be on the podium here. I’m really satisfied with my season start – one win and four podiums finishes is just great,” also said the 33-year-old Swiss who regained the lead in the Overall World Cup standings with an advance of 12 points on Austrian Benjamin Raich who skipped the downhill to better prepare Sunday’s giant slalom at Alta Badia.

Scott Macartney, who reached the podium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen two years ago, achieved an impressive performance in skiing among the top-favorites today. He is the third US skier to podium in downhill this season after Marco Sullivan in Lake Louise and Steven Nyman at Beaver Creek. “It’s great to see the team doing so well so far,” said Scott who is also using Nordica skis as Suvillan. “We are all charging hard this winter,” added the 29-yeqar-old skier from Redmont for suffered a bad crash here four years ago. “It’s a sweet revenge for me after blowing out my knee. I always enjoyed racing here it’s such a great course, so intense too.”

Quebec’s Erik Guay was sorry to miss another podium today after dominating the last training run on Thursday. “I skied hard yet not so precisely as in training,” the Canadian said. “I made a few unnecessary mistakes and you can’t afford this on that course,” he added. “I know I have the skiing in me to do well here and in other races, now it’s a matter of execution.”

On Sunday, the skier to beat should once more be Benjamin Raich who never won a race at Alta Badia. Like Walchhofer, he has excelled in all the other major “Classics” of the World Cup calendar. Yet the Italian team with Manfred Moelgg, Max Blardone or Patrick Thaler who did so well last week at Bad Kleinkirchheim, will be difficult to beat on the tough “Gran Risa” course.