Men's Giant Slalom in Whistler (CAN) 2008

Ski2b 23.02.2008 22:55 Uhr

16:18:

At 7:00 pm CET the men's GS in Whistler will start. We'll be there live for you!



18:37:

Welcome to the men's GS in Whistler, B.C. There are many favorites for this race, mainly because we haven't seen a GS for six weeks.



18:42 - Albrecht, Daniel (SUI):

At least six racer are still capable of winning the crystal globe in GS. With two more races to come, there is not going to be a decision today. Current leader is Daniel Albrecht from Switzerland.



18:44 - Raich, Benjamin (AUT):

But this may easiliy change. Benjamin Raich (AUT), Ted Ligety (USA) and Manfred Mölgg (ITA) are at his heels, not more than 31 points away.



18:46 - Berthod, Marc (SUI):

Max Blardone and Marc Berthod are also still is reach of the globe. Kale Palander from Finland would be, too - but he is out due to a broken leg.



18:47:

We will see soon, who makes it today. Who droppes out, may lose his chances in the GS rankings. Taking risks may be successfull.



18:49:

This is also a testing ground for the Olympic Winter Games 2010. The 'Dave Murray' slope will host the men's races for Vancouver.



18:50 - Miller, Bode (USA):

One more thing for the overall rankings, where Bode Miller has a secure lead to Benjamin Raich. Miller fell in the super G and still will start today. It's Raichs chance to get a little closer.



18:51 - Raich, Benjamin (AUT):

Raich wears bin number one today and will tehrefore be the first we see on the course. That is an advantage for the Austrian.



19:02 - Raich, Benjamin (AUT):

Raich is on his way. There is a flat part at the beginning, then it is getting steeper. It's a long GS run - 1.20,53 min - that's Raichs time.



19:03 - Mölgg, Manfred (ITA):

Manfred Mölgg is not as smooth as Raich, he likes it icy. But the snow is softer - and Mölgg slower than Raich.



19:05 - Cuche, Didier (SUI):

Now it's Didier Cuches turn. He can still hope for the overall standings. But he has problems in the last section, still this is a very good time for Cuche.



19:07 - Berthod, Marc (SUI):

A direct line chosen by Marc Berthod who also is a specialist for steep and icy slopes. Can he handle these conditions? Good last part, third place right now.



19:08 - Ligety, Ted (USA):

Ted Ligety, willing to go for the win. There he stands before the flat section, an expansive mistake. Now he is angry, tries to regain every hundreth. 4th place!



19:10 - Albrecht, Daniel (SUI):

Here comes the current GS leader - what a big mistake, Albrecht almost stands. Still he re-enters the race. He is two seconds away from the minimum time. That was it for the red bib!



19:12 - Blardone, Massimiliano (ITA):

Not a good run by Blardone today, he also can't cope with the soft snow.



19:14 - Defago, Didier (SUI):

Raichs advantage with his bib number one is obvious. Can Defago attack his mark? No chance, he is more than a second away - and just a few goals before the finish line he misses one goal and droppes out.



19:16 - Reichelt, Hannes (AUT):

Now we'll see what is possible - good run by Hannes Reichelt -and he goes to the third position!



19:18 - Kucera, John (CAN):

Wild and aggressive - that is what John Kucera does today. One spectacular turn, where the Canadian takes the turn on the inner ski only - rank six so far.



19:19 - Görgl, Stephan (AUT):

Stephan Görgl has some small mistakes that pay off with a second in behind. The Austrian is not satisfied with that eighth position.



19:22 - Matt, Mario (AUT):

Mario Matt, Slalom World Champion, can't attack Raich today, it is not his specialty.



19:23 - Miller, Bode (USA):

Bode Miller is next - but he took his points in downhill and super-combined. In GS he has a fair run, but is only 9th.



19:25 - Bourque, Francois (CAN):

Disappointment in the face of Francois Bourque, who can do much better than that. This is the last place at the moment and may not be enough for the second run.



19:27 - Gruber, Christoph (AUT):

Gruber, Super G winner two days ago. He loses his rhythm in the second section and therefore is not better then 12th. It will be very difficult to make a top ten result on this snow.



19:30 - Schönfelder, Rainer (AUT):

Rainer Schönfelder does his best, and he is in a good shape - yet he can only beat Gruber and not challenge Raich.



19:31 - Scheiber, Mario (AUT):

Mario Scheiber now goes to the 10th place - that was a good run and maybe all that is still possible.



19:32 - Fill, Peter (ITA):

Italys Peter Fill loses almost three seconds, that is too much for now.



19:35 - Schieppati, Alberto (ITA):

Schieppati is next and also fights for a top20 result. 18th by now.



19:37 - Simoncelli, Davide (ITA):

Simoncelli, the third Italian in a row. And he does a good job. Excellant run by Simoncelli, who goes to the 8th place, less than a second behind Raich.



19:38 - Chenal, Joel (FRA):

Joel Chenal can't compete with that, he loses tenths in every section. 18th place so far.



19:42 - Gorza, Ales (SLO):

Ales Gorza suprised the world with his third place in the Super G. Today he is not going for the podium, but we will see him in the second run again.



19:43 - Lanzinger, Matthias (AUT):

That is a good show by Lanzinger, who souveraneously qualifies for the final.



19:44 - Sandell, Marcus (FIN):

Marcus Sandell does an even better job! 12th place for the Finn, that is remarkeble on this used up slope.



19:45 - Larsson, Markus (SWE):

Markus Larsson will most probably pack his bags after this run. The 25th position will hardly be good enough.



19:46 - Roy, Jean-Philippe (CAN):

Canadas Jean-Philippe Roy knows the slope better than the others - it's not a premiere for him. 17th place, that's good for him.



19:48 - Karlsen, Truls Ove (NOR):

Norways old-hand Karlsen is not convincing today. 28th place, he will also miss the final if only three athletes can go faster.



19:49 - Richard, Cyprien (FRA):

Here is one of them: Cyprien Richard from France. He is on 19th position and will be safe for run two.



19:50 - Cochran, Jimmy (USA):

Jimmy Cochran is next, but he has too many mistakes in his run.



19:51 - Schlopy, Erik (USA):

Erik Schlopy does it better and goes to 22nd position.



19:52 - Büchel, Marco (LIE):

Liechtensteins Marco Büchel was a GS winner some years ago. These days he is more a speed specialist. 28th place - hardly enough.



19:53 - Guay, Erik (CAN):

Erik Guay, the fans are cheering for him. That is what he can do in GS - 23rd at the moment.



19:55 - Grange, Jean-Baptiste (FRA):

In slalom Grange is a winner, in GS he must hope to qualify for the second run. 25th place - his hope is still alive.



19:56 - Kostelic, Ivica (CRO):

Ivica Kostelic is a little better than Grange before. Maybe he will make it to the final!



19:57 - Leino, Jukka (FIN):

And Jukka Leino also wants to be there and comes in 26th. That kicks out Chenal.



19:59 - Raich, Benjamin (AUT):

That was it from the first run. Benjamin Raich has the best position, leading by 20/100. Cuche and Reichelt are next.



20:00:

The second run starts at 10:00 pm CET - we will be there!



21:48 - Raich, Benjamin (AUT):

We will soon see the final run in Whistlers GS. Can Benni Raich hold his lead and win the race? Then he would be back in the race for the overall globe - and new leader in the GS standings.



21:50 - Cuche, Didier (SUI):

But Raich had an advantage in the first run that he will miss now. The first bibs were lucky, due to the warm snow. Cuche, Berthod and Ligety used that.



21:51:

We will see, who of them holds his position - and who will fall back - or maybe even rise in the standings. The final will make some changes for sure.



21:52 - Albrecht, Daniel (SUI):

The lucky numbers for this run are for Grange, Kostelic and Leino - and for Daniel Albrecht. Maybe the current GS leader can repair the damage done by a bad first run.



22:02 - Grange, Jean-Baptiste (FRA):

Jean Baptiste Grange opens up this final run. This time it's a less turning course, more speed. Grange has even too much - he falls out.



22:03 - Kostelic, Ivica (CRO):

Can Kostelic give us a mark? Yes, he doesn't look too happy though. How fast was this?



22:04 - Leino, Jukka (FIN):

Jukka Leino has a bigger mistake in the first section, that makes it almost impossible to beat Kostelic - and he can't.



22:05 - Albrecht, Daniel (SUI):

Daniel Albrecht now is a lot better than in the first run - but then he slides away and misses a gate. He is out and will lose the red bib.



22:07 - Frey, Thomas (SUI):

And Thomas Frey now is the third racer not to see the finish line. Is this run so dangerous?



22:08 - de Tessieres, Gauthier (FRA):

Gauthier de Tessiere fights with this course, which is already getting bumpy. Many mistakes, he loses time and comes in third.



22:09 - Guay, Erik (CAN):

Erik Guay should benefit from the faster course, he is a good super G skier. But he does not take the final risk and falls back to 4th.



22:10 - Janka, Carlo (SUI):

Carlo Janka does it better - he is attacking, he takes the risk - and makes it through the most difficult goal. Best time for Janka.



22:12 - Baumann, Romed (AUT):

Romed Baumann also tries to stay in the course, he never has the chance to attack Jankas mark. He falls back.



22:13 - Schlopy, Erik (USA):

It is tricky in Whistler - Erik Schlopy experiences that in his run. He finally comes down, only third though.



22:14 - Gorza, Ales (SLO):

Gorza will remember this place for his third place in super G more than for this race. Third at this moment, bit still with many racers to come.



22:16 - Lanzinger, Matthias (AUT):

Lanzinger is sliding through many gates, that is not enough to challenge the best. He lost more than obe second to Janka in this run.



22:17 - Richard, Cyprien (FRA):

Cyprien Richard expands his lead in the first gates, but then he makes some mistakes and also has to stand back. Second place by now.



22:18 - Blardone, Massimiliano (ITA):

Even a racer with the quality of Blardone loses one second - Jankas run may well be the best in the final altogether. Janka rises in the standings, Blardone new 2nd.



22:19 - Roy, Jean-Philippe (CAN):

That is bad luck for Roy, he droppes out before his home crowd just a few meters before the finish line.



22:22 - Gruber, Christoph (AUT):

Super G winner Gruber should like this cource better than in the first run. And this is good - until the last change. Two mistakes - he does not take the lead.



22:24 - Schönfelder, Rainer (AUT):

Rainer Schönfelder has a solid upper part and keeps his lead, but the last two sections count. For Schönfelder, this is too much. He lost one second on the last 20 seconds of his run.



22:25 - Matt, Mario (AUT):

Can Matt do better? The slope is getting worse, Matt misses one turn and the next gate - he is out.



22:27 - Sandell, Marcus (FIN):

74 Hundreths is what Sandell brings into this run. He makes it with much feeling, that's looking good - and he ties for the best time! Sandell and Janka - two Youngsters are leading.



22:29 - Scheiber, Mario (AUT):

Now even the upper part is rather bumpy and the lower sections cost one second for any racer. Scheiber tries his best - and droppes out! The 6th racer not to finish.



22:31 - Miller, Bode (USA):

What can Miller do? Very good first part, he expands his lead. There is one mistake, but he is good, he is first. Bode Miller has set the new mark to beat.



22:33 - Görgl, Stephan (AUT):

Stephan Görgl has some problems, but then finds a good rhythm. But then he misses the best time after going to directly to one goal.



22:37 - Simoncelli, Davide (ITA):

Eight racer are still to come - Bode Miller leads the standings. Simoncelli is next. The Italian misses some turns here, he is 5th.



22:38 - Mölgg, Manfred (ITA):

Manfred Mölgg is willing to attack today, as usual. Loses some time, but then he has a very good last section and takes the lead!



22:39 - Kucera, John (CAN):

Kucera jumps through some turns , he risks it all in the last part - and takes the lead! The fans cheer and Kucera is happy.



22:41 - Ligety, Ted (USA):

Ligetys first part is incedible. That is maximum risk. Will that be enough or will he drop out? He is a champion today! Ligety leads, and this time is very good.



22:42 - Berthod, Marc (SUI):

Marc Berthod droppes out early, slides over the inner ski. The Swiss racer is upset.



22:44 - Reichelt, Hannes (AUT):

Three are still to challenge Ligety. Hannes Reichelt comes first. The flat part is good for Reichelt and the last section is even better. Reichelt smashes Ligetys time - great!



22:48 - Cuche, Didier (SUI):

Cuche now. He is also in a great shape and has a lot of feeling. Cuche comes in second and will be on the podium!



22:49 - Raich, Benjamin (AUT):

Now it is up to Raich to win the game. But Raich has only 26 hundreths in advance. He holds that in the upper part - but Reichelts finish was almost incredible. Raich is - third. Reichelt wins!



22:51 - Reichelt, Hannes (AUT):

What a great stopp for Hannes Reichelt - the super G podium is followed by a win in GS. Cuche is second and improves his situation in the overall standings.



22:52 - Raich, Benjamin (AUT):

Raich completes the podium, he does not seem to be to happy with this result. The best time of this run is held by Carlo Janka.



22:55:

The men will now leave Whistler, next stop is Kvitfjell (NOR). Three speed events are ahead - we will be there, of course. Until then!