Men's Giant Slalom in Alta Badia (ITA) 2007

Ski2b 16.12.2007 13:42 Uhr

07:34:

The third of four races within four days in Italy will be held in Alta Badia. The giant slalom on the 'Gran Risa' slope starts at 9:45 CET.



09:24:

Good morning and welcome to Alta Badia! It's the third race in three days for the alpine men.



09:26:

Groeden was all for the speed specialists - today we're looking at the technical disciplines. There is a Giant Slalom scheduled.



09:27:

66 skiers are taking part in the first run on the course.



09:29:

The first run is set by the Austrian coach Christian Höflehner and includes 51 gates. The start is at 1871 metres - that makes an altitude difference of 448 metres until crossing the finish line, which is at 1423 metres.



09:30:

Gran Risa - the big smile. That's the name of the course in Alta Badia. Whose smile is biggest after today's race?



09:32 - Raich, Benjamin (AUT):

The first one on the course will be Benni Raich. He was 4th twice in the past giant slaloms - today he wants to hit the podium.



09:33 - Blardone, Massimiliano (ITA):

Right after him, Max Blardone will start his race. The Italian won the last giant slalom in Bad Kleinkirchheim and stated afterwards that he was going for the giant slalom chrystal ball now.



09:35 - Ligety, Ted (USA):

At the moment Ted Ligety is leading the Giant Slalom World Cup ranking. The US-boy was on the podium twice this year, but he is still lacking a victory. He has bib number 15 today.



09:37 - Albrecht, Daniel (SUI):

The lists of favorites is long in this giant slalom. This year, Aksel Lund Svindal, who can't compete due to his severe injury in a training crash two weeks ago, and Daniel Albrecht were the giant slalom winners, apart from Blardone. Albrecht is the 6th skier today at the start.



09:43 - Ligety, Ted (USA):

Bad luck for Ted Ligety: The American was too late when the bibs were distributed. The athletes have to be present 15 minutes before the drawing - Ligety was there 11 minutes before only.



09:44 - Ligety, Ted (USA):

According to the new rules, this results in a severe punishment: Ligety may not start in the group of the best, he is starting as 46th now!



09:45:

The forerunners are on the course, soon the race will start.



09:48 - Raich, Benjamin (AUT):

Start! Benni Raich is on the course. A good beginning, no major difficulties in the steep part. Raich slips a little right before the second time measurement, but he is back in the race fast. 1:15.21, that's his time in the finish.



09:49 - Blardone, Massimiliano (ITA):

Massimiliano Blardone is next. The Italian starts with a big mistake already! He almost misses the gate, that cost him about 2 seconds. Blardone is 2.26 seconds behind in the finish.



09:51 - Palander, Kalle (FIN):

Kalle Palander won the giant slalom in Alta Badia last year, and he is one of the favorites today as well. No mistakes in the steep middle part, and then he is fast in the flat final section. Palander leads! The Finn is 0.15 seconds ahead.



09:53 - Cuche, Didier (SUI):

Didier Cuche is made for the speed disciplines. The Swiss is leading the overall World Cup ranking, and he starts with a mistake already. Difficulties in the middle part, too, he almost skies out! Cuche manages to stay on the course, but is over 3 seconds behind in the finish.



09:55 - Miller, Bode (USA):

Bode Miller hasn't been able to show his potential yet this winter. But that's a good beginning, Miller is 0.3 seconds ahead at the first time measurement! He slips a little then, and gives up his race two gates later. A broken binding - that's bad luck for the US-boy, who was on a good run.



09:57 - Albrecht, Daniel (SUI):

Daniel Albrecht begins well, he is not far behind after the first part. But then he is having difficulties in the middle section, where he is too aggressive and loses time. 1.54 seconds in the finish - that's not too bad, looking at the mistakes in his race.



09:58 - Bourque, Francois (CAN):

Drop-out! Francois Bourque slips and slides - and has to give up his run.



10:01 - Reichelt, Hannes (AUT):

Hannes Reichelt is ahead at the first intermediate. A good race until the final section: In the flat part he loses quite a bit of time and is 1.46 seconds behind in the finish.



10:02 - Schieppati, Alberto (ITA):

Alberto Schieppati does not do visible mistakes, he is simply not fast enough. 1.9 seconds behind in the finish - and that without having had major difficulties.



10:03 - Defago, Didier (SUI):

Another drop-out! Swiss Didier Defago is driven away from the gates in the middle part - no chance to stay on the course.



10:06 - Mölgg, Manfred (ITA):

Manfred Moelgg is next. The Italian is in great shape - and he shows in the first part. Moelgg is ahead there, and manages well in the middle part, too. No mistakes in the final section either, but he still loses time there. Moelgg is 0.8 seconds behind in the finish.



10:07 - Kucera, John (CAN):

A furious start for John Kucera! Some difficulties then in the middle section, but the Canadian is fast! A good performance in the flat part, too: Kucera is 0.2 seconds behind, that's the 3rd position.



10:09 - Matt, Mario (AUT):

Mario Matt is not too far away from the best in the first part, but then he loses more and more time. 7th position in the finish.



10:10 - Simoncelli, Davide (ITA):

Davide Simoncelli knows this course like no other. No mistakes in the steep part, but still he is not as fast as Palander before. The Italian is 7th in the finish.



10:14 - Maier, Hermann (AUT):

Hermann Maier is next. No visible mistakes, but the Austrian is just not as fast as in his good old times. 2.08 seconds behind in the finish.



10:15 - Gruber, Christoph (AUT):

Christian Gruber is 11th in the finish, 2.4 seconds behind Palander.



10:17 - Berthod, Marc (SUI):

Marc Berthod performs well especially in the steep part. 1.08 seconds, that's the 5th position in the finish.



10:18 - Fill, Peter (ITA):

Peter Fill loses over half a second right after the start already. Another second lost in the middle part, the Italian is shaking his head in the finish.



10:19 - Larsson, Markus (SWE):

Markus Larsson likes this hill. Ahead even at the first time measurement! He loses a little on the rest of the course - it's the 6th position in the finish, 1.23 seconds behind Palander.



10:19 - Görgl, Stephan (AUT):

Stephan Goergl begins well. Not perfectly clean in the final part, Goergl is 6th after crossing the finish line.



10:21 - Lanzinger, Matthias (AUT):

Drop-out! Matthias Lanzinger falls and has to cancel his run.



10:28 - Sandell, Marcus (FIN):

Marcus Sandell is not as fast today as Kalle Palander predicted. 2.15 seconds behind in the finish, that's the 15th position currently.



10:31 - Byggmark, Jens (SWE):

Jens Byggmark is fast in the first part, 0.2 seconds behind Palander only. He does not lose too much in the middle section either, but the flat part is not his domain today. 1.92 seconds, that's the 14th position.



10:38 - Baumann, Romed (AUT):

Philip Schörghofer and Romed Baumann drop out.



10:40:

We're waiting for Ted Ligety now, who is as 46th today after being too late at the bib drawing.



10:43 - Ligety, Ted (USA):

Ligety is on the course. What can he show still starting so late in the field of competitors? 0.2 seconds behind after the first section, that's not too bad yet. One second lost in the middle part - Ligety is 10th in the finish.



10:44:

That was the liveticker coverage of the first run in the men's Giant Slalom World Cup in Alta Badia (ITA). We'll be back right in time with the second run, which is scheduled for 12.45 CET. Stay tuned!



12:33:

Welcome back to Alta Badia! We are awaiting the start of the men's slalom's second run, which is due in about 10 minutes.



12:40:

Kalle Palander is leading after the first run, 0.16 seconds ahead of Benni Raich and John Kucera. Manfred Moelgg on 4 has a big margin already.



12:43:

The first forerunners are on the course.



12:44 - Viletta, Sandro (SUI):

Sandro Viletta will start the race in just a bit.



12:48 - Viletta, Sandro (SUI):

A solid run for the young Swiss - the next skiers will show what his first time is worth.



12:49 - Blardone, Massimiliano (ITA):

Max Blardone is next. He barely made it to the final after his big mistake in the first run. A big leap on Viletta now, Blardone leads!



12:51:

Christoph Gruber begins well, but loses a lot in the steep part. He is a second behind Blardone in the finish.



12:51 - de Tessieres, Gauthier (FRA):

Gauthier de Tessieres can't keep up with Blardone in the middle part, the Italian skied exellently there. The French is 3rd in the finish currently.



12:52 - Pichot, Sebastien (FRA):

Sebastien Pichot is no danger for Blardone either. The French is 5th at the moment.



12:53 - Schlopy, Erik (USA):

Erik Schlopy is far off the line in the middle part! The American is more than 4 seconds behind in the finish.



12:55 - Bechter, Patrick (AUT):

Drop-out! Patrick Bechter misses a gate and skies out.



12:57 - Covili, Frederic (FRA):

Frederic Covili shows a good performance, although he loses his leap in the final section. 0.22 seconds behind Blardone, he is 2nd currently.



13:01 - Cochran, Jimmy (USA):

Jimmy Cochran with a strong performance! Still 0.14 seconds ahead at the time measurement, that's a close call in the finish! Cochrach is 0.04 seconds behind, Blardone stays in front.



13:02 - Karlsen, Truls Ove (NOR):

Truls Ove Karlsen loses almost a second in the middle section. He is 4th in the finish.



13:03 - Richard, Cyprien (FRA):

Cyprien Richard attacks in the first part. No visible mistakes or difficulties, but he is 0.16 seconds behind the Italian in the end.



13:05 - Sandell, Marcus (FIN):

Marcus Sandell is next. He was on Kalle Palander's list of favorites today, and he extends his leap in the first part. His leap is gone fast in the steep section though, and he loses more in the final flat passage. 5th position for the young Finn.



13:06 - Maier, Hermann (AUT):

Hermann Maier is over half a second ahead at the first time measurement! Too late at some gates though in the middle part, that costs time! Maier is 8th.



13:07 - Myhrer, Andre (SWE):

The slalom specialist surprised us all in the first run. And this is a good one, too! Only 0.03 seconds behind Blardone in the finish.



13:08 - Byggmark, Jens (SWE):

Jens Byggmark now. Drop-out! After a good beginning, he is turning too early at a gate and he skies out.



13:09 - Eisath, Florian (ITA):

Florian Eisath starts with a leap of over half a second. And all of that is lost at the first time measurement already! In the finish, the young Italian is 1.37 behind.



13:13 - Schieppati, Alberto (ITA):

Another Italian. Alberto Schieppati loses his leap fast, too. Blardone stays in front, Schieppati is 13th.



13:14 - Gorza, Ales (SLO):

Ales Gorza with difficulties in the middle part, that costs time. 0.7 seconds behind in the finish - Blardone has caught up almost 20 positions already.



13:15 - Matt, Mario (AUT):

Mario Matt's leap on the Italian was 0.65 seconds after the first run. Not enough, apparently, to take over the lead: Matt is 14th in the finish.



13:17 - Simoncelli, Davide (ITA):

Now Davide Simoncelli. The Italian begins well, is on a good line in the first passage. He loses about a second though in the steep part, and is 7th in the finish.



13:19 - Ligety, Ted (USA):

Ted Ligety wants to make up lost ground now. And he does! Ligety, who started late in the first run, shows an excellent race and is almost a second ahead of Blardone in the finish!



13:21 - Albrecht, Daniel (SUI):

Daniel Albrecht is behind Ligety in the first part, but well ahead of Blardone still. Then a mistake, he is too late at a gate. 5th position in the finish.



13:22 - Reichelt, Hannes (AUT):

Next is Hannes Reichelt. He loses half a second on Ligety on the first metres already, and more throughout the course. The Austrian is 11th in the finish.



13:27 - Larsson, Markus (SWE):

Markus Larsson is almost equal to Ligety in the middle part. A good race also in the final section - that's the 2nd position for the Swede.



13:28 - Görgl, Stephan (AUT):

Stephan Goergl without visible mistakes in the start, but he loses a lot of time there already. It's the 10th position for him in the finish.



13:29 - Berthod, Marc (SUI):

Now Marc Berthod. A bit of a surprise in the first run, he has a leap of 0.6 seconds on Ligety. A risky run, Berthod wants a lot today! That's the lead for the Swiss, he is 0.13 seconds ahead in the finish!



13:31 - Mölgg, Manfred (ITA):

Manfred Moelgg, 4th after the first run. The steep part brings the decision today, and Moelgg is good there. Just not good enough, Moelgg is 3rd in the finish.



13:32 - Kucera, John (CAN):

The last three athletes. John Kucera has a leap of 0.88 seconds on Berthod, but he can't keep it! 0.09 seconds behind in the finish, Kucera is currently 2nd.



13:33:

Raich and Palander are still on the hill, which of the two makes it today?



13:34 - Raich, Benjamin (AUT):

Benni Raich is on the course. 0.92 seconds on Berthod, shouldn't that be enough? 0.03 seconds ahead in the finish, Raich takes over the lead!



13:35 - Palander, Kalle (FIN):

Kalle Palander is the only one who can change the result now. He was 0.16 seconds ahead of Raich only after the first run.



13:36 - Palander, Kalle (FIN):

Palander keeps his leap at the first intermediate, and this middle section is to his liking! He doubles his leap, and he gains more even in the final section. An excellent run of the routined Finn, especially in the last parts of the course. Congratulations, Palander wins!



13:37 - Palander, Kalle (FIN):

That's Palander's third Gran Risa victory.



13:38:

Kalle Palander wins the men's Giant Slalom World Cup in Alta Badia. Benjamin Raich is 2nd, Marc Berthod 3rd.



13:39:

Ted Ligety, who had the best time in this 2nd run, jumps from position 10 in the first run to 5 in the end.



13:39:

Impressive also the performance of Max Blardone: 29th in the first run, he finishes the race on the 8th position.



13:40:

The last men's race in Alta Badia will be the slalom tomorrow.



13:41:

The men's slalom World Cup in Alta Badia is scheduled for Monday, December 17th, 10 a.m. (CET). See you then!