Men´s Slalom in Alta Badia (ITA) 2007

Ski2b 17.12.2007 14:02 Uhr

08:26:

At 10.00 a.m. the first run of the slalom in Alta Badia will start. We will be reporting live of course.



09:38:

The Gran Risa welcomes us for the second time. Today the slalom is on the agenda. We will keep you posted in our liveticker!



09:43 - Gini, Marc (SUI):

Two slalom competitions have been completed already. On the Reiteralm Marc Gini was the surprising winner and he collected 100 points in this discipline.



09:43 - Raich, Benjamin (AUT):

In Bad Kleinkirchheim Benjamin Raich had reason to cheer. So he also took over the lead in the slalom World Cup.



09:45 - Raich, Benjamin (AUT):

Yesterday in giant slalom Raich was strong again and made it to place two. So it´s obvious that he gets along well with conditions in Alta Badia and belongs to the favorites for this race.



09:47 - Mölgg, Manfred (ITA):

But in the team of the hosting country there are some great competitors for Raich: Manfred Moelgg is in a good shape and waits for his first victory. In both slaloms he has been on the podium.



09:49 - Larsson, Markus (SWE):

Also the Scandinavians send promisind candidates into the race: The Swedes hope on Youngster Jens Byggmark and routinier Markus Larsson.



09:51 - Palander, Kalle (FIN):

But one should also regard Kalle Palander, especially after his victory yesterday. He loves the Gran Risa - and obviously the piste also loves him.



09:52 - Matt, Mario (AUT):

Perhaps Mario Matt is able to strike back today - the slalom World Champion is still waiting for the feeling of success.



09:54 - Neureuther, Felix (GER):

The German ski team sets great expectations in Felix Neureuther and Alois Vogl. Both top skiers have proved that they are fast - but both haven´t been very constant, either. What can they show us today?



09:57 - Berthod, Marc (SUI):

Who else can get in on at the top? Young Swiss Daniel Albrecht and Marc Berthod must be considered candidates for top results as well.



09:59 - Grange, Jean-Baptiste (FRA):

Jean Baptiste Grange and Ted Ligety want to finish among the top five as well. They shouldn´t be underestimated.



09:59:

In no other discipline the top skiers are so close together like in slalom. That´s why we can expect a very exciting race!



10:01 - Raich, Benjamin (AUT):

Benjamin Raich will be the first one on the hill. He is able to set the first benchmark. But what is happening on his way down the piste? He misses a pole and drops out!



10:02 - Grange, Jean-Baptiste (FRA):

After the first favorite drop out we will see Grange now.



10:03 - Grange, Jean-Baptiste (FRA):

He makes his way down the poles quite well and sets the first time in 47.47 seconds. What´s this time worth?



10:04 - Palander, Kalle (FIN):

Palander who is next is already way behind at the intermediate. Crossing the finish line he is already one and a half second behind.



10:06 - Larsson, Markus (SWE):

Also Markus Larsson has difficulties to find his rhythm in the upper part. He becomes a bit faster and safer in the lower section. But it´s not enough. He takes over place two and is 58 hundredths of a second behind.



10:07 - Mölgg, Manfred (ITA):

Although Manfred Moelgg makes his way down around the poles quite well, he cannot beat the best time. In the end he loses time again and clocks as third.



10:08 - Byggmark, Jens (SWE):

Grange´s time seems unbeatable at the moment. Neither youngster Jens Byggmark gets close to it. He becomes forth behind Moelgg for the time being.



10:09 - Matt, Mario (AUT):

Mario Matt is next. His rhythm is not bad but he cannot reach Grange´s minimum time, either. That´s place three for the Austrian so far.



10:11 - Janyk, Michael (CAN):

Now it´s Michael Janyk´s turn. He doesn´t find a clean line and has his problems on his way. In the end he is more than one and a half second behind. That´s only place seven.



10:12 - Rocca, Giorgio (ITA):

The first run for Giorgio Rocca is very disappointing. He hasn´t found his shape so far. That´s reflected by the time he scores. Position eight for the Italian!



10:14 - Deville, Cristian (ITA):

His team mate Cristian Deville doesn´t perform much better! He crosses the finish line as seventh.



10:15 - Myhrer, Andre (SWE):

Swede Andre Myhrer is the next starter. He starts off very well and keeps his good rhythm up to the end. That´s a very good time for the Swede. Place two and only 26 hundredths of a second behind the leader Grange.



10:17 - Pranger, Manfred (AUT):

Manfred Pranger isn´t relaxed enough. He has little difficulties but nevertheless reaches a good result among the top ten. Place six for the Austrian so far.



10:18 - Gini, Marc (SUI):

Marc Gini, third in the slalom World Cup ranking is on his way now. He cannot find a clean line in the upper part. Short before the finish he gets into a good rhythm, but it´s too late. He must accept place eight.



10:20 - Neureuther, Felix (GER):

What can Felix Neureuther show us? He cannot attack the minimum time but he gets along quite well. That´s place five for the German so far.



10:20 - Berthod, Marc (SUI):

Marc Berthod has difficulties in the upper part and slips away. That´s the next drop out.



10:22 - Grange, Jean-Baptiste (FRA):

After 15 starters Jean Baptiste Grange who staretd off with bib two claims the lead ahead of Andre Myhrer and Markus Larsson.



10:24 - Ligety, Ted (USA):

With bib 16 Ted Ligety races around the poles. He is far away from the best time. Nevertheless he enters the top ten as ninth.



10:25 - Albrecht, Daniel (SUI):

Daniel Albrecht isn´t able to show a good performance today. He is way too slow already in the upper section of the course. Up to the end he is 1,92 second sbehind the leader.



10:26 - Kostelic, Ivica (CRO):

It seems as if nobody could get close to Grange´s time. neither Ivica Kostelic finds the right line. This is place ten for him for the time being.



10:28 - Herbst, Reinfried (AUT):

Most of the athletes lose their time already in the upper part and cannot catch up the lost hundredths in the course of the run. It´s the same with Reinfried Herbst. He must be satisfied with place eight so far.



10:28 - Lizeroux, Julien (FRA):

Julien Lizeroux loses time constantly. In the finish he is 1,93 seconds behind and ranks on place 18.



10:31 - Minagawa, Kentaro (JPN):

Kentaro Minagawa shows a good performance in the middle part, but in the other two sections he loses too much time to get in on at the front finally. Position twelve for the Japanese.



10:32 - Sasaki, Akira (JPN):

Directly behind him compatriot Akira Sasaki starts off. He cannot perform much better and takes over place twelve ahead of Minagawa.



10:34 - Thaler, Patrick (ITA):

Place 19 now for Patrick Thaler. Although no big mistakes are obvious he loses 1,8 seconds up to the finish.



10:36 - Vajdic, Bernard (SLO):

Bernard Vajdic begins better than all the athletes before him. But this time he loses time inthe lower part. That´s why he only reaches place ten in the end.



10:37:

At the moment the race is interrupted for a short time because a pole has to be repaired.



10:40 - Cochran, Jimmy (USA):

The same happens to Jimmy Cochran who takes up the race with bib 25. Starting off quite well he drops back in the lower section. He takes away Vajdic´s tenth place.



10:41 - Karlsen, Truls Ove (NOR):

Truls Ove Karlsen doesn´t show a good performance today. He doesn´t get along with the course and only reaches place 24.



10:42 - Koll, Alexander (AUT):

Alexander Koll makes his way down through the poles even worse and fights with problems. He becomes 25th so far.



10:44 - Lahdenperae, Anton (SWE):

Anton Lahdenperae cannot score a good result today. He clocks 1,97 seconds behind the leader and take sover place 25. That won´t probably enough for the second run.



10:44 - Brolenius, Johan (SWE):

Johann Brolenius only crosses the finish line as 26th.



10:46 - Vogl, Alois (GER):

The bad series go on for Alois Vogl. Although he gets along quite well in the upper part he misses a pole in the middle section and drops out.



10:48 - Miller, Bode (USA):

Neither Bode Miller who starts off next can complete the course. He even drops out after just a few poles.



10:50 - Jansrud, Kjetil (NOR):

Kjetil Jansrud scores a good result so far. He is 1,38 seconds behind Grange but nevertheless it´s place 15 for him so that we will surely see him again in the second run.



10:51 - Kelley, Tim (USA):

Tim Kelley is very good on his way and not too far away from the best time. But then he makes a mistake and drops out.



10:58 - Grange, Jean-Baptiste (FRA):

After 38 starters Jean Baptiste Grange who set the minimum time with bib two leads ahead of the Swedes Andre Myhrer and Markus Larsson.



10:59 - Matt, Mario (AUT):

On places four to six Mario Matt, Felix Neureuther and Manfred Moelgg are in a promising position for run number two.



11:02 - Raich, Benjamin (AUT):

That was our coverage on the first run of the slalom race in Alta Badia. Benni Raich and Marc Berthod won´t take part in the second run today as they couldn´t complete the first one.



11:03:

We will be back right in time at 1 pm for the exciting decision in the second run. Until then!



12:49:

Welcome back to the slalom final in Alta Badia! In less than ten minutes the final run will get started.



12:51 - Grange, Jean-Baptiste (FRA):

Jean Baptiste Grange scored the minimum time in the first run.



12:53:

For the first time Grange leads after a first run. But that doesn´t mean that he is already the winner. The athletes who rank close behind him want to achieve the victory as well.



12:56:

Nine athletes rank within one second behind the leading Frenchman. The more athletes go down the course the more difficult it will get to keep a clean line.



12:57 - Larsson, Markus (SWE):

Myhrer and Larsson reached positions two and three in the first run. And last year Larsson won here so he should know how to handle the Gran Risa.



12:58 - Palander, Kalle (FIN):

Some favorites like Daniel Albrecht and kalle Palander made mistakes in the first run. Now they have the chance to improve because they can profit by the earlier bib.



13:00 - Koll, Alexander (AUT):

Alexander Koll and Ondrej Bank both qualified for the final on position 29. They will start off first now.



13:00 - Koll, Alexander (AUT):

Now Alexander Koll opens the race.



13:01 - Koll, Alexander (AUT):

The Austrian goes down the slope without any bigger mistakes and arrives in the finish in 1:39,16 minutes.



13:02 - Bank, Ondrej (CZE):

Bank instead cannot beat Koll´s time so that e drops back on two, 15 hundredths behind Koll.



13:04 - Brolenius, Johan (SWE):

Up to the finish Johan Brolenius loses most of his margin but in the end he manages it to stay in front by one hundredths of a second.



13:05 - Lahdenperae, Anton (SWE):

Although he defends his margin crossing the intermediates, Anton Lahdenperae loses time in the last section and drops back on place four.



13:06 - Karlsen, Truls Ove (NOR):

Truls Ove Karlsen misses a pole in the middle of the course. Instead of climbing back to the missed pole, he finishes his race.



13:07 - Lizeroux, Julien (FRA):

Now Julien Lizeroux. He goes down the piste quite aggressively and shows that he wants to score the best time. And it pays off. By 61 hundredths he takes th elead!



13:09 - Albrecht, Daniel (SUI):

It´s not Daniel Albrecht´s race today. He loses his margin constantly, makes many mistakes and crosses the finish 2,41 seconds behind the leader.



13:10 - Thaler, Patrick (ITA):

In the finish there is a new man on position two. It´s Patrick Thaler who completed a satisfying run.



13:11 - Razzoli, Giuliano (ITA):

His team mate Giuliano Razzoli is next. He is too cautious. And then he slips away. The race is over for Razzoli.



13:12 - Paquin, Pierre (FRA):

The next French has entered the finish. It´s Pierre Paquin who reaches the second position so far.



13:13:

It´s Giorgio Rocca´s turn now. He didn´t show a good performance in run number one. Can he improve now?



13:14 - Rocca, Giorgio (ITA):

No, he is not in shape and has to accept place six so far. That´s not satisfying for the Italian.



13:15 - Janyk, Michael (CAN):

Michael Janyk is good on his way up to the point when he misses a pole. But he doesn´t give up and climbs back to continue the race. So at least he can possibly get some World Cup points.



13:16 - Deville, Cristian (ITA):

In the middle part Cristian Deville´s rhythm is not very good, up to the finish he finds a better line. Position two for the Italian for the time being.



13:18 - Palander, Kalle (FIN):

Also Palander has difficulties in the middle part but he wants to give a proof of his potential in the lower section. He succeeds and takes over the lead so far by 17 hundredths.



13:19 - Gini, Marc (SUI):

Marc Gini goes very risky in the upper part. Although he shows a good run he cannot beat the minimum time. That´s place two.



13:22 - Minagawa, Kentaro (JPN):

Kentaro Minagawa starts off with a scream. But it doesn´t help. In the middle of the hill he slips away, misses a pole and drops out.



13:23 - Sasaki, Akira (JPN):

His team mate Akira Sasaki performs better. He makes it to the finish although he also loses time and ranks on four so far.



13:25 - Kostelic, Ivica (CRO):

Ivica Kostelic´s margin is already gone in the upper part. He loses time constantly and simply isn´t fast enough. That´s place eight for the Croatian.



13:26 - Ligety, Ted (USA):

Ted Ligety is much better on his way now. He attacks the poles and clocks fast times at the intermediates. That´s the clear lead for the US-American!



13:28 - Vajdic, Bernard (SLO):

We get closer to the top ten of the first run now. At the moment Bernard Vajdic makes his way through the poles. 62 hundredths behind Ligety take him to place two.



13:29 - Cochran, Jimmy (USA):

Jimmy Cochran cannot repeat the performance of the first run. In the end he is approximately one second behind and takes over place five so far.



13:30 - Byggmark, Jens (SWE):

Jens Byggmark rushes down the hill aggressively. But maybe he is a bit too risky. Anyway he misses a pole in the lower passage and drops out.



13:33 - Herbst, Reinfried (AUT):

A good run is shown by Reinfried Herbst. He is close to the best times at the intermediates. But inthe finishes he loses the decisive tenths. Place two for the Austrian.



13:34 - Pranger, Manfred (AUT):

Manfred Pranger cannot complete the run because he drops out in the upper part. That´s bad luck!



13:35 - Mölgg, Manfred (ITA):

Manfred Moelgg falls in the snow but he continues the race. Nevertheless he cannot get in on in the front. Today place 18 so far is no good result for him.



13:37 - Neureuther, Felix (GER):

Felix Neureuther who is next brings down a clean and flawless run. That´s the deserved lead for the German. What will this performance be worth in the end?



13:38 - Matt, Mario (AUT):

Anyway Mario Matt who is up next cannot reach Neureuthe´s time and even drops out at a pole in the middle part.



13:39 - Larsson, Markus (SWE):

Big mistake in the upper part for Markus Larsson. That doesn´t only cost time but also makes him nervous. He drops out as well. It gets more and more difficult on the piste!



13:40 - Myhrer, Andre (SWE):

Andre Myhrer is good on his way. But also he cannot finish the run without mistakes. He misses a pole and must climb back! It´s over for the Swede!



13:42:

The last starter waits to complete his run. It´s Jean Baptiste Grange from France.



13:43 - Grange, Jean-Baptiste (FRA):

Grange doesn´t seem nervous and finds a good rhythm right from the start. Can he show this performance up to the finish?



13:44 - Grange, Jean-Baptiste (FRA):

He enters the finish with a fabulous time! That´s the first World Cup victory for the French. Congratulations!



13:46 - Neureuther, Felix (GER):

And Felix Neureuther can be happy about the second place. So he can repeat his best World Cup result. Congratulations also to him!



13:47 - Ligety, Ted (USA):

And Ted Ligety improved from place twelve in run one to the podium.



13:48:

The fact that many favorites dropped out today shows that it was a real difficult course. So congratulations once more to the athletes who reached the podium!



13:49:

An exciting race ends in Alta Badia. We hope you enjoyed our coverage.



13:50:

The next men´s alpine World Cup will take place in Bormio in Italy. The downhill gets started on december 29th 2007 at 12.45 pm. Until then! Have a Merry Christmas!