СВЕТОВНО ПЪРВЕНСТВО. Жан-Баптист Гранж спечели първа шампионска титла за Франция в слалома на Световно първенство по ски-алпийски дисциплини от 41 години насам. 26-годишният Гранж водеше в класирането след първия манш в слалома, а във втория успя да компенсира грешки в ранните метри и в крайна сметка триумфира како победител с общо време 1 минута, 41.72 секунди. Шведът Йенс Бюгмарк успя да се придвижи от 6-о място в първия манш на 2-о в крайното класиране и времето му е 1:42.15. Бронзов медал спечели италианския ветеран Манфред Мьолг, който остана с време 1:42.33. През 2007-а година Мьолг спечели сребърния медал в тази дисциплина на Световното първенство.
![](http://www.xtdev.com/ski/gallery/news2011/110220-GAP2011-Men-Slalom-Alpine-FIS-Ski-World-Championships-UXXd4M3UqmWl.jpg) Jean-Baptiste Grange of France skis in the Men's Slalom during the Alpine FIS Ski World Championships on the Gudiberg course on February 20, 2011 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (February 19, 2011 - Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images Europe)
Гранж е първият французин след Жан-Ноел Оже през 1970-а година, който триумфира като световен първенец в дисциплината. Сега титлата му идва като логично продължение на трите победи през сезона, две от които в слаломи. Бившият световен шампион и победител в Купата в слалома Ивица Костелич завърши на 8-о място, а австрийският фаворит в дисциплината Манфред Прангер остана на 9-о място. Олимпийският шампион Джулиано Рацоли от Италия пък пропусна врата и отпадна във втория манш.
![](http://www.xtdev.com/ski/gallery/news2011/110220-GAP2011-Jean-Baptiste-Grange-Men-Slalom-Alpine-FIS-ObhWqhYNddAl.jpg) Jean Baptiste Grange of France takes the gold medal during the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Men's Slalom on February 20, 2011 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (February 19, 2011 - Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)
От българите наторализираният австриец Килиан Албрехт завърши на 26-о място с време 1:47.64 или изоставане на 5V92 секунди от победителя. Албрехт подобри доста класирането си в сравнение с първия манш, когато беше на 35-о място. Другия наш участник във втория манш Никола Чонгаров остана на 31-а позиция с 1:51.00 или изоставане на 9,28. В първия манш Никола Чонгаров финишира 44-ти с 57.39 секунди. Георги Георгиев отпадна в първия манш, след като пропусна врата в началото на трасето.
Sportal.bg 20 февруари 2011
Гранж: Не се чувствах уверен до самия край
Жан-Баптист Гранж спечели златния медал в слалома за мъже от световното първенство по ски-алпийски дисциплини и доказа, че е оставил зад гърба си последните две тежки години. Той победи шведа Йенс Бигмарк с едва 0.43 секунди, докато третият Манфред Мьолг от Италия завърши с 0.61 секунди изоставане от победителя.
![](http://www.xtdev.com/ski/gallery/news2011/110220-GAP2011-Men-Slalom-Alpine-FIS-Ski-World-Championships-WsgughcNCeBl.jpg) Jens Byggmark of Sweden competes during the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Men's Slalom on February 20, 2011 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (February 19, 2011 - Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)
![](http://www.xtdev.com/ski/gallery/news2011/110220-GAP2011-Men-Slalom-Alpine-FIS-Ski-World-Championships-UV16N2teI48l.jpg) Manfred Moelgg of Italy competes during the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Men's Slalom on February 20, 2011 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (February 19, 2011 - Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)
"Не се чувствах уверен във втория манш. Трябваше да се боря, дадох всичко от себе си, но не бях сигурен в победата си дори и след пресичането на финалната линия. Бях фаворит за златото и през 2009-а година, но тогава не успях да го спечеля. После преминах през операция на коляното, а завръщането ми беше дълго и мъчително", заяви Гранж, който пропусна олимпийските игри във Ванкувър.
Гранж има три победи в слалома за световната купа този сезон и е втори в генералното подреждане на дисциплината. Лидер е хърватинът Ивица Костелич, който завърши на осмо място в Гармиш-Партенкирхен.
Sportal.bg 20 февруари 2011
Крайно класиране
1.Жан-Баптист Гранж (Франция) 1:41,72 минути (51,30/50,42 секунди) 2.Йенс Бюгмарк (Швеция) 1:42,15 (52,39/49,76) 3.Манфред Мьолг (Италия) 1:42,33 (51,52/50,81) 4.Марио Мат (Австрия) 1:42,54 (53,11/49,43) 5.Жюлиен Кузиньо (Канада) 1:42,59 (52,95/49,64) 6.Наоки Юаса (Япония) 1:42,68 (52,60/50,08) 7.Кристиан Девил (Италия) 1:42,78 (53,11/49,67) 8.Ивица Костелич (Хърватия) 1:42,88 (52,32/50,56) 9.Манфред Прангер (Австрия) 1:43,03 (52,41/50,62) 10.Андре Мюрер (Швеция) 1:43,22 (51,87/51,35) ... 26. Kилиан Албрехт (България) 1:47,64 (55,12/52,52) 31. Никола Чонгаров (България) 1:51.00 (57.39/53.61)
![](http://www.xtdev.com/ski/gallery/news2011/110220-GAP2011-Jean-Baptiste-Grange-Men-Slalom-Alpine-FIS-cXS7uVtLr1vl.jpg) Jean Baptiste Grange of France takes the gold medal, Jens Byggmark of Sweden takes the silver medal, Manfred Moelgg of Italy takes the bronze medal during the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Men's Slalom on February 20, 2011 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. (February 19, 2011 - Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)
Grange caps comeback season with World Champs gold medal
GAP 2011. GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany – One year ago, Jean-Baptiste Grange never would have dreamed of becoming World Slalom Champion. But on Sunday, on spring-like snow, on the last day of the 2011 world alpine ski championships at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the 26-year-old capped his amazing season returning from injury with his first gold medal.
The Frenchman who missed the Olympics and was out for most of last year’s World Cup season with a torn ligament in his right knee, put down an early lead in the first run of the slalom on the well-used Gudiberg slope in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and then held on for the gold medal, winning in a total time of 1 minute, 41.72 seconds.
“It’s just amazing for me,” Grange said. “It was so tough the last two years with the world championships in France and then my injury. I just focused to push today and cross the line.”
Grange kicked off his comeback season with an immediate win at the World Cup in Levi, then followed up with a podium in the Wengen slalom and huge victories in Kitzbuehel and Schladming. He suffered a small setback, however, injuring his shoulder in a training crash, since then but nothing appeared to be ailing him on Sunday. He did say that fighting for a win at world champs – which he failed to do in front of the home crowd in Val d’Isere in 2009, when he straddled a gate in the first run – comes with a bit more weight, especially after putting down an early lead.
“That was so tough between the two runs, so much pressure – more than the World Cup,” he said. “I knew the snow conditions were not very good. I was just focused on skiing fast and pushing on, because if I thought about everything – the medals, the pressure – that’s not going to be good. So it is a wonderful gift. I give a lot to have that. It’s perfect.”
Coming in for a surprise silver, Swedish slalom specialist Jens Byggmark made his first podium in more than three years, earning his first career medal, finishing 0.43 seconds behind Grange.
Byggmark trailed Grange by more than a second going into run No. 2, but between runs announced “I’m running for a medal. That’s why we’re all here,” and then capitalized on his coach’s second run course set.
Blazing downfast in both runs on the slushy slope, Italy’s Manfred Moelgg rounded out the podium with the bronze, finishing 0.61 seconds off Grange’s winning time. He was on Grange’s heels after the first run – just a couple of tenths behind – but had a couple of slips during the second run, during which race officials salted and watered around the gates in an effort to keep conditions consistent.
Run No. 1, set by France, took its toll on a few racers, namely Silvan Zurbriggen and 2009 slalom bronze medalist Michael Janyk, who straddled a gate at the same spot, but also one of its own. France’s Steve Missillier also went down early.
A tricky gate at the top of run No. 2 took out Reinfried Herbst, Giuliano Razzoli and local favorite Felix Neureuther, but more impressive were others outside of the medalists who mastered both.
Austrian veteran Mario Matt skied to fourth place Sunday, 0.82 seconds off of the winning time and Canada’s Julien Cousineau also came close to the hardware, finishing fifth, 0.87 back.
Wearing bib No. 25, Japan’s Naoki Yuasa made it to sixth place, 0.96 seconds off the win, and said he felt good about his race and the slushy conditions did not effect him.
“I want to be fast on all slopes, in all conditions,” he said. “These were not so bad. It was soft, but I can’t say anything, because it was soft for all and we have to be fast in everything.”
Italy’s Cristian Deville came in next, seventh and 1.06 seconds back as World Cup slalom and overall leader Ivica Kostelic, the favorite coming into the race, landed in eighth place, 1.16 seconds back, after trailing Grange by more than a second in the first run.
Also, 2009 world slalom champion Manfred Pranger couldn’t quite find medal-winning speed on Sunday and was ninth, 1.31 seconds back and Sweden’s Andre Myhrer, who was only about a half a second out after the first run, ended up 10th, 1.50 seconds back.
FISalpine.com Sunday 20 February 2011
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