22nd December, World Alpine Rockfest, Andalo, Trentino, Italy – Cyprien Richard conquered the Giant Slalom that represented the most important appointment of the World Alpine Rockfest – Paganella Ski. Thirty-one years old skiers beated Carlo Janka, Davide Simoncelli and Aksel-Lund Svindal, the other athletes who reached the final phase after three knockout manches on the Pian Dosson’s Olympic slope 2. Richard takes home 100.000 euro that was the prize reserved to the winner of the event that was closed by the Placebo concert. French athlete confirms his excellent physical condition after the third place of the podium, behind Blardone and Simoncelli, in the World Cup Giant Slalom in Alta Badia.

Cyprien Richard (FRA)

In a suggestive frame made by lights and fires, twenty-nine protagonists of white circus created an adrenalin show that exalted the extreme inclination (60 per cent) of the most technical slope in Paganella.

Richard, who was invited and conquered the access to the final phase winning the first manche reserved to the wild card holders, imposed himself in the second knockout manche. Davide Simoncelli won the third manche, that reduced the list the athlete in the race from eight to four. 

Davide Simoncelli (ITA)

In the final phase with four athletes, disturbed by a mist, Richard anticipated Janka (+0,08), Simoncelli (+0,16) and Svindal (+0,32). The others “big” presented in Paganella had been already eliminated. The first of four manches of the final eliminated “king” Bode Miller besides to Neureuther, Buechel e Osborne-Paradis. The second manche eliminated Ford, Hirscher, Jitloff and Innerhofer, whereas the third round (semi-final) made ko Ligety, Berthod, Lizeroux and Schieppati. Marcel Hirscher from Austria registered, in the first round, the best time (29”22).

Aksel-Lund Svindal (NOR)

Obviously, Richard was all-happy and he defined «marvellous for ski promotion» the World Alpine Rockfest format, produced by American society Top Out Sports and acquired by Paganella Ski. The winner admitted that: «I don’t wait for the win in this particular race: the consciousness grew manche after manche, until the final phase. Beat champions like these gives me a great confidence for the next races. Win a cheque of 100.000 euro it is not so usual and it gave me a great emotion. Around the World Alpine Rockfest I found an extraordinary passion. The match between ski and rock is ideal: the time for a pause and this evening I will be in the first line at the Placebo concert».

Cyprien Richard (FRA)

Davide Simoncelli confessed his understandable double regret: «You have to try to put yourself into my shoes: arriving near to 100.000 euro gets me angry, and I am fed up with go to the podium one or two steps under the winner. I hope to fill the gap in the Giant Slalom in Adelboden. The thing that I appreciated was to cut across the finish line with my favourite song (“Thunderstuck” of AC-DC – ndr)

Davide Simoncelli (ITA)

Bode Miller admitted that he didn’t face the final phase in the best physical condition: «I had pain to the right ankle. On top of that I got the ski wrong. If we add a bad performance, it’s normal that I caught this bad result. The World Alpine Rockfest has a great future: it’s an original and organized event».

Bode Miller (USA)

Steve Forrest, the Placebo drummer who will make their show during this evening in the Concert Stadium, attended to the Giant Slalom: «I never went on a ski slope in mountain: it was a great discovery! I am sure that I’ll come here again. Ski or snowboard? I surfing and perhaps it’s better the snowboard… I found a very friendly contest and I wanted to hold Bode Miller hands: he’s a myth. Now I prepare myself to show off in high height: i twill be another discovery…»

Cyprien Richard won 100,000 Euro check

Placebo concert

The World Alpine Rockfest will be broadcasted on Saturday 26 December by Eurosport1 at 9.00 and by Eurosport2 at 18.30. On Sunday 27 (Eurosport1 at 10.00), Monday 28 (Eurosport2 at 14.00), Tuesday  29 (Eurosport2 at 11.30). On RaiSport Sat, Thursday 31 at 14.45.

Classifica manche finale
1. Cyprien RICHARD           FRA    29”57
2. Carlo JANKA                  SUI     +0,08
3. Davide SIMONCELLI        ITA     +0,16
4. Aksel-Lund SVINDAL       NOR    +0,32
 
Classifica terza manche
1. Davide SIMONCELLI        ITA     29”65
2. Carlo JANKA                  SUI     +0,06
3. Cyprien RICHARD            FRA    +0,09
4. Aksel-Lund SVINDAL       NOR    +0,26
5. Ted LIGETY                            USA    +0,27
6. Marc BERTHOD              SUI     +0,76
7. Julien LIZEROUX             FRA    +0,93
n.c. Alberto SCHIEPPATI     ITA
 
Classifica seconda manche
1. Cyprien RICHARD            FRA    29”62
2. Davide SIMONCELLI        ITA     +0,01
3. Alberto SCHIEPPATI        ITA     +0,15
4. Carlo JANKA                  SUI     +0,16
5. Aksel-Lund SVINDAL       NOR    +0,32
6. Marc BERTHOD              SUI     +0,33
7. Ted LIGETY                            USA    +0,39
8. Julien LIZEROUX             FRA    +0,43
9. Tommy FORD                 USA    +0,45
10. Marcel HIRSCHER AUT    +0,61
11. Tim JITLOFF                USA    +0,79
12. Christof INNERHOFER     ITA     +1,11
 
Classifica prima manche
1. Marcel HIRSCHER           AUT    29”22
2. Ted LIGETY                            USA    +0,12
3. Aksel-Lund SVINDAL       NOR    +0,18
4. Cyprien RICHARD            FRA    +0,25
5. Tommy FORD                 USA    +0,30
6. Marc BERTHOD              SUI     +0,40
7. Alberto SCHIEPPATI        ITA     +0,43
8. Davide SIMONCELLI        ITA     +0,44
9. Carlo JANKA                  SUI     +0,52
10. Christof INNERHOFER     ITA     +0,64
11. Julien LIZEROUX           FRA    +0,82
12. Tim JITLOFF                USA    +0,91
13. Matthias HARGIN          SWE   +0,99
14. Philip SCHOERGHOFER    AUT    +1,16
15. Bode MILLER                USA    +1,17
16. Felix NEUREUTHER         GER    +1,30
17. Marco BUECHEL            LIE     +1,36
18. M. OSBORNE-PARADIS   CAN    +1,55

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