Four Cup races (including the first combined of the season) await the men’s White Circus for the classic weekend in Wengen. Tomorrow we start the first of two downhills. On Saturday the second downhill on Lauberhorn track. We finish on Sunday with a slalom and a combined run.

400 points are at stake, this could be the turning point in the duel between Miller and Eberharter, at the moment divided by 35 points.

The weekend at Wengen could be important for other contenders to the Cup, such as Kjietil Andre Aamodt, third after a fantastic second run in the giant of Adelboden.

The Norvegian obtained the best time in the first timed trial yesterday, with 1 second and 31 against Cavegn; third Rzehak, fourth Rahlves, and fifth Fritz Strobl. In 17th place Hermann Maier.

In todays trials the Austrian Kroell obtained the best time in front of the Swiss Kernen and the Italian Sulzenbacher. Other two Austrians are fourth and fifth: Walchhofer and Pepi Strobl. Maier finished 10th .

In the Gold Roll of Lauberhorn’s downhill only Klammer managed to win three times, while even Girardelli has three successes, he has to add together two downhills and a super G held in Wengen in ’94. In 3rd place Kristian Ghedina, who triumphed in ’95 and ’97.

In Sunday’s slalom, Ivica Kostelic, who won the last three races, will have to defend himself not only against the adversaries, but also against the controversies raised after recent declarations to a Croatian newspaper. In the race comepeting against him for first place are Jean Pierre Vidal and Bode Miller.

Kostelic comes out of the slalom in Wengen champion where he won last season. Among the active skiers the multititled is Benjamin Raich, with two victories in ’99 and in 2001: only one success separates him from the record obtained by Stenmark, who won in ’75, ’76 and ’77.

snowtime.com, 17.01.2003 

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