ALPINE SKI. MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, Italy – What an intense first run on the famous Canalone Miramonti. Toninght at 17.45 the first men's World Cup race held in Madonna di Campiglio since 2005 kicked off. Giorgio Rocca won the last edition of the 3Tre race for his first and only World Cup victory in Italy.

MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, ITALY, DECEMBER 18, 2012: Marcel Hirscher of Austria competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup MenÕs Slalom on December 18, 2012 in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. (© Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom)

Marcel Hirscher gave it his best shot and with a time of 1 minute, 42.50 seconds held on to his lead from the first run, leaving Felix Neureuther 1.67 seconds behind. In third place the surprise and the story of the day – Naoki Yuasa moves from 26th place into third!

Marcel Hirscher now landed a podium in all seven technical events so far this season: four giant slaloms and two slaloms equaling the 21-year-old record held by Alberto Tomba. In the 1991/92 season, the Slalom legend finished on the podium in seven men's technical races before New Year's.

“It was fun to ski here tonight, the slope is icy and a little bumpy making it quite challenging, you need more power to get your edges to into the snow,” Hirscher commented his run. “Its awesome so far how this season went, it’s so very special and sometimes I think I might not be ale to ski on another podium. Seven podiums is a great way to end this 2012 but I have no goals. I only want to ski well and that’s already a lot for me. I know this can’t last forever and it won’t always be like it was today, I know that so I am enjoying it”

Felix Neureuther. is having a good season in both Slalom and Giant Slalom and even though he finished far from Hirscher, finishing this 2012 with his second podium this season makes him go home for the holidays with a smile.

MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, ITALY, DECEMBER 18, 2012: Felix Neureuther of Germany competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup MenÕs Slalom on December 18, 2012 in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. (© Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom)

“This while season is running really well. I was badly injured in the preparation period and was not even sure what to expect from the season. Two podiums, a fourth place and some top tens are more then I could have wished for.”

And what about Hirscher’s dominance in the technical disciplines this season?

“I don’t think I am stopping now, I want to keep working hard and the goal is to catch Marcel.  I am happy whit how I skied today but it was really challenging. I think this has been one of the toughest but the most beautiful races I have done in the last couple of years. It was perfect for me! Now all I want to do is go home sweet home - I need some rest. It was a tough rhythm so far so I can’t wait for some days off”

Naoki Yuasa could hardly stand both after his first and after his second run, but despite the intense back pain that had him require medical care after both his runs, the Japanese athlete skied an outstanding second run and improved his placement by 23 places landing on his first ever World Cup podium.

MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO, ITALY, DECEMBER 18, 2012: Naoki Yuasa of Japan takes 3rd place competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup MenÕs Slalom on December 18, 2012 in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. (© Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom)

“I have a bad back pain, it was so bad that I cant recall my last six gates. I still can’t believe all that happened today - nobody believed I could ski like this with the pain. It’s difficult to say how I was able to ski like I did in the second run after considering not even starting it due to how bad my back was. But this is my job and as long as I can make my way until the bottom of a course I will try to ski and do my best. I might take some time to believe and understand what happened!”

Podium, Photo © Atomic

As of tonight, the men’s Tour is on Christmas brake, and will start again with the first scheduled Downhill training in Bormio on the 27th December.

The Fisalpine team wishes you all a Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

by Ana Jelusic
FISalpine.com
Tuesday 18 December 2012