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www.worldskinews.com/Val
Gardena (ITA) 17.12.2004
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Men
Super G - Race results
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Austrian
dominate Val Gardena’s Super-G’s
VAL GARDENA, 17.12.2004 - The “Empire” struck back in the men's Ski World Cup on Friday
with Michael Walchhofer winning the Super-G in front of two of his team-mates while
Overall leader Bode Miller was 4th, missing the Val Gardena podium by 39/100 of a second.
Hermann Maier, the former Olympic and World Champion, finished second at 12/100 of a
second while compatriot Benjamin Raich was third at 30/100.
American Miller, the runaway championship leader after wining six World Cup races in all
four disciplines in recent weeks, was fourth. He kept the lead in the Super-G World Cup
standings after this race ahead of Maier and Raich.
The Austrians are labeled the "Empire" by the American skiers, familiar with the Star Wars
movies, but they have struggled to impose their dominance this season. They celebrated
many triple wins during the past seasons – but none so far this winter.
It was Walchhofer's first win ever in World Cup Super-G and his first since a downhill
victory at Lake Louise, Canada, a year ago. The reigning downhill World Champion finished
three times second in a downhill at Val Gardena in past years.
The victory was all the more surprising given that Walchhofer's place on the starting line
was in doubt after he missed a downhill training on Thursday with a knee injury.
"I'm so pleased with this. It is totally unexpected for me coming after the injury. The
ligament problem meant I had to be cautious and maybe in a way that helped me because I
was quite smooth and relaxed," said Walchhofer.
"This first win in Super-G means a lot to me because it is a difficult event to win," he
added. “It’s also great to do it on this famous course where so many Austrians have
excelled in past years.”
Maier fought for more
Hermann Maier has never won in Val Gardena but he came close, powering down the Saslong
piste to cross the finish line just behind his team mate.
“I can be happy with this second place because it is always good to be on the podium but I
am totally unhappy with the way I raced," said Maier.
"I made too many mistakes and this is a course which is very similar to a downhill," said
Maier, who has yet to get a victory this season.
"It is frustrating. This is the third time I have been second, only a few hundredths
behind the winner. I am very impatient to get my first win of the season," he added.
“I’m pleased with my tuning today, I think I’m on my way to find a good solution with my
equipment,” added the Austrian leader who used a new pair of Atomic boots today. “I hope
that everything will be fine in a few weeks so that I’ll again be able to totally focus on
my skiing. I was again not able to be totally confident and to attack the course as
aggressively as I should. It’s just too bad to miss my first season victory by a glimpse
of a eye.”
Miller, who was looking for a third win within a week after his slalom triumph at
Sestriere on Monday and giant slalom victory at Val d’Isère last Sunday, said he had made
a few errors in his choice of line. "I just misjudged a little bit and went too straight
in the first steep section where I lost much speed, but fourth place is still a good
finish for me," said the American. "It’s tough to race a Super-G after training downhill
on the same course, sometimes you get confused when you are choosing the best line.
Walchhofer nailed this upper section almost perfectly and he carries a lot of speed in the
lower part. I tried hard to come back, but that course is not forgiving. Once you made a
mistake at the top, it’s tough to make-up time at the bottom. In fact, I was amazed to see
that I took over the lead after my arrival. I though I would have a hard time making the
top-10!”
Great satisfaction too for Ben!
Benni Raich was delighted to reach his first Super-G podium after finishing several times
in 4th place last season. “I knew I could make it, it was just a matter of time,” he said
after the race. “I didn’t start off so well so I took a more aggressive line at the
bottom. I reached a nice goal today and I hope to also qualify for the Worlds in Bormio in
this event.”
Raich will skip the downhill to focus on Sunday’s giant slalom and then on the two
technical events in Flachau, where he won a race last year.
Norway’s great talent Aksel Lund Svindal reached a strong 5th place half a second behind
the podium while last year’s winner, Lasse Kjus was a far 24th after a series of mistakes.
The double World Cup champion also hit a gate and a pole remained attached to his left
boot for a few seconds. His friend Kjetil Aamodt achieved a better race, finishing a
promising 16th -
USA’s Daron Rahlves was only 13th – he hasn’t found back his bets rhythm in Super-G so far!
The World Cup continues with a downhill at Val Gardena on Saturday and Walchhofer, who has
finished second on the Saslong slopes on three occasions, believes he now has a great
chance. "I should be among the favorites but it is a very difficult course and it is well
suited to Antoine Deneriaz and Bode Miller, who are both great gliders," said Walchhofer.
Maier, who needs to start winning soon if he is to catch up on Miller in the fight for the
overall World Cup title, sounded downbeat about his chances in Val Gardena.
"It is very difficult to win here for me. It is very straight and there are not many
turns, it is about aerodynamics while I prefer more technical courses," he said.
Italy’s veteran Kristian Ghedina, a four-time winner here as Austria’s Ski Legend Franz
Klammer, hopes to become the only 5-time winner. He even bet with Klammer about his
chances. In case of victory, he would walk 180 km from his home, Cortina d’Ampezzo, to
Klammer place, situated in Mooswald, Carinthia.
After the downhill the weekend ends with a giant slalom at Alta Badia on Sunday.
Patrick Lang
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