ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP BANSKO. – Boosted by his three medals at the world championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Italy’s Christof Innerhofer won only his second World Cup victory in a super-combined in Bansko on Saturday.

Christof Innerhofer of Italy takes 1st place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Super Combined on February 26, 2011 in Bansko, Bulgaria. (February 25, 2011 - Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

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Christof Innerhofer of Italy takes 1st place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's Super Combined on February 26, 2011 in Bansko, Bulgaria. (February 25, 2011 - Photo by Christophe Pallot/Agence Zoom/Getty Images Europe)

The Super-G world champion took advantage of the day’s programme placing the Super-G leg after the slalom run to win in a combined time of two minutes and 28.87 seconds on the steep and rugged Banderiza piste.

“When you’re on a roll, keep on rolling,” said the Italian, whose only previous World Cup win was in a downhill in Bormio in December 2008.

“I skied with the same frame of mind as in Garmisch and I don’t know how long this will go on but I’m really thrilled by myself,” added Innerhofer, the first Italian ever to win a super-combined.

It was a close call for the discipline’s silver-medallist in Garmisch as he only beat Germany’s Felix Neureuther by the slimmest margin of 0.01 seconds.

“Luck was on my side this time. I was fourth twice this season,” added Innerhofer, who only obtained another podium placing so far this winter.

The Italian limited the damage in the morning’s slalom won by world champion Jean-Baptiste Grange and went full gas in the afternoon to keep the slalom specialists at bay.

“I’ve always meant to be an all-round skier and this strengthens my determination”, he said.

Third place went to unheralded Frenchman Thomas Mermillod-Blondin, who clinched the first podium spot of his career; 0.33 off the pace, after a season hampered by a hand injury.

His result avenged the fate of team leader Grange, who crashed out in the afternoon, fell on his shoulder but apparently suffered only a minor bruise to the thumb.

The Garmsich gold-medallist will be the favourite in Sunday’s slalom especially as World Cup leader Ivica Kostelic, who was fifth but had already secured the super-combined crystal globe, seems a little worn out after his workaholic month of January.

The race took place without World Cup holder Carlo Janka of Switzerland and world champion Aksel-Lund Svndal of Norway, who both took a break after the worlds.

Innerhofer inaugurates the Bansko roll of honour as this was the first men’s World Cup race held in the Bulgarian resort, which hosted a women’s World Cup weekend two seasons ago.

Contributed by www.francoisthomazeau.fr
FISalpine.com

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