ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP. SOELDEN, Austria – This year the one thing no one had to worry about the race is the weather. The men’s opening race in Soelden brought us clear skies and perfect conditions.

Ted Ligety (USA), Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Soleden, GS, 23.10.2011, photo FIS

The first one out of the start gate was Carlo Janka, finishing his run in 1 minute, 8. 63 seconds, enough to keep him at the front only until Overall GS champion Ted Ligety made it to the finish line. Putting down a smooth run, he took over the lead with 0.18 seconds in front of Janka.

The guys that followed all got close to those two, but apart from Austrian’s Philipp Schoerghofer, who, after being 0.27 seconds behind the leader in the top part of the course, had an astonishing performance on the steep and most challenging section. He made up some time and took the lead at the second intermediate time, 0.01 seconds in front of Ligety, but didn’t manage to carry the speed all the way to the finish line and got down in third, 0.21 seconds behind.

The first seven racers, apart from Thomas Fanara, finished within one second from the leader. It seemed that after the first group, the course conditions changed a little bit and all the guys from bib No.8 on lost time on the steep section. Didier Cuche, currently in eleventh place said, “it’s rough.”

Romed Bauman seemed to be the only one out of the top seven group who seemed to adjust to the tough conditions, with a very consistent run he skied into fifth position, 0.51 seconds behind Ligety.

Probably the biggest surprise of the first run came from the young Frenchman, Alexis Pinturault. Last year he proved he was ready for great results by claiming a second place in the Giant Slalom in Kranjska Gora. He was the only one after Baumann who managed to cross the finish line less than a second slower than the best time. With bib No. 20, he is currently in fourth position, only 0.31 seconds behind.

by Ana Jelusic
FISalpine.com
Sunday 23 October 2011

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