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www.worldskinews.com/Chamonix
(FRA) 09.01.2005
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Men Slalom - Race report
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Fifth win for Giorgio Rocca.
CHAMONIX (France, Jan.9th - Giorgio Rocca celebrated his second straight World Cup victory in Chamonix today and also his second here in one year.
The 29-year-old Italian humbled the opposition on Chamonix's on the last part of the “Piste Verte” des Houches in clearly dominating his rivals.
The skier from Livigno seized the slalom World Cup lead from Benjamin Raich of Austria, who was 1.33 seconds behind in second place. Unheralded Swede Markus Larsson was third, 3/100 of a second further adrift, for his first podium place. Rocca, who has now won five World Cup slaloms in his career, was especially impressive in the first leg in which he left the 2003 World Champion Ivica Kostelic and Raich more than 1.2 seconds off the pace.
Message from Tomba
More cautious in the easier afternoon run, Rocca had no problem staying once more out of reach of the other favourites. “I saw the first run was narrow, tricky and technical and I decided it could be the race of my life,” Rocca said. “I immediately found my best rhythm and I kept punching hard in the last gates, I felt incredibly confident,” he added.
“I also received advices by SMS from my friend Alberto Tomba who watched the race on TV. It was really an exciting day.”
Giorgio, who also reach the podium in Beaver Creek one month ago, was not very exuberant after his win. After kissing the snow at the finish area, he waived an Italian flag but remained very composed throughout the awards. “It is a difficult moment for the rest of the world and Italy with the tsunami and that train crash,” he explained. “And our team also morns the death of the father of Mirko Deflorian who just passed away. I'm happy but I want to keep it inside me.”
The skier's head coach Flavio Roda, who also looked after Tomba at the end of his career, said the former champion sent him a text message which read: “When I see Giorgio ski, it's like seeing myself”.
Out of reach
Raich admitted there was nothing to be done against Rocca on the day. “But I'm glad I decided not to do Saturday's downhill to concentrate on the slalom,” the Austrian said. “It's a fairly good weekend for me because I scored more points than Bode. I felt comfortable today but Rocca was too strong. It's a good way to start the New Year. I'm looking forward for the next four technical events which I like a lot.”
Raich, the 2002 slalom World Cup champion, will also try to win the three coming slaloms in Wengen, Kitzbühel and Schladming, a feat he accomplished three years ago.
World Cup leader Bode Miller, ill at ease in slaloms this season, spent only a few seconds in the race before a huge mistake ruined his chances. He hesitated before side-stepping up the hill to restart but then slowed to a halt again. He started in 15th place instead within the top-7 because he showed-up too late at the bib draw the night before the race.
It was the third out of four slaloms this season in which the American has failed to complete both legs. He won the other slalom in Sestriere, Italy. Raich closed the gap on Miller slightly in the overall standings. The Austrian now has 640 points to the American's 908.
Kostelic, second in the first leg, had to settle for fifth place at the end, but it was still good news for the Croatian after his slow season-start. He suffered a bad knee injury last year in Schladming and needed much time to overcome the surgery and the rehabilitation. “It's a real relief, I skied very well this morning. The second run was sort of too easy for me. At least, my sensations are back and when I ski at the level I'm capable of, then results will follow,” he said.
The men's circuit now moves to Switzerland for a giant slalom in Adelboden on Tuesday, followed by a downhill, a slalom and a combined in Wengen from Friday.
Patrick Lang
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