Raich takes overall lead after slalom win

18/01/2004 13:45

WENGEN, Switzerland (AP) _ Austrian Benjamin Raich jumped into the lead of the World Cup overall standings Sunday after winning a weather-plagued slalom. Raich overcame fog and snow clouding the Maennlichen-Jungfrau course in a two-run combined time of 1:40.50, ahead of teammate Rainer Schoenfelder, runnerup in 1:40.97. Reigning world slalom champion Ivica Kostelic of Croatia was third in 1:41.54. However, the most spectacular performance came from Canadian Thomas Grandi. The Canadian crossed 25th in the opening run, then delivered the fastest second run to climb 20 spots into fifth place with 1:41.61, for his best result of the season. He was the only skier to clock under 48 seconds in the final leg and was .67 faster than anyone else that run. With the victory, Raich vaulted past Lasse Kjus to take to lead in the overall standings with 680 points. Poor weather and a rough surface plagued the skiers, foiling 20 skiers in the opening leg including the top three in the discipline. In the opening leg, it was the early skiers who were at a disadvantage, as conditions bizarrely improved as more racers went down. The top three skiers in the slalom _ World Cup leader Giorgio Rocca of Italy, Manfred Pranger of Austria and Finland's Kalle Palander _ all careened off course, as well as Bode Miller. Warm weather in previous days had pushed organizers to inject the course with hardening chemicals overnight. However, snow fell in the early morning hours, insulating the lower layer and preventing it from hardening. The fresh snow formed a crust on top and early skiers soon broke through it, making it difficult to control their skis. "The conditions were really tough. Not a lot of us were going fast," Miller said. "After I went out I watched a bit from the side of the hill. The skiing that was being put down was pretty depressing. The skiing wasn't really a good level but then you'd hear on the loudspeakers 'he's in third!' "It's disappointing obviously because I feel like my slalom is ready to be good but I'm pretty patient. I do what I can do. I go out and I have a good plan and I try to execute it and if it doesn't work then I go on to the next one."
results 

18/01/2004 12:43

Montillet masters another downhill
 

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) _ Olympic downhill champion Carole Montillet claimed another victory in her preferred discipline Sunday. The Frenchwoman stormed down the Olympia delle Tofane course in 1 minute, 16.27 seconds for her third World Cup victory this season, all in downhill. Renate Goetschl of Austria, who won a super-G here Friday, was the runner-up, 0.23 seconds behind, increasing her lead to 71 points atop the overall standings. Sweden's Anja Paerson, who entered the day just one point behind Goetschl, finished 21st. Lindsey Kildow of the United States finished a surprising third, her best career result, 0.24 seconds back. "I am so happy right now, I can't even explain how happy I am," the 19-year-old Kildow said after wiping away a few tears. "I called my dad, he was watching on the Internet and he was crying too." Germany's Hilde Gerg, Saturday's downhill winner, was fourth and another American, Kirsten Clark, finished fifth. Montillet also won the season's first two downhills in Lake Louise, Canada, then lost her form for a while before registering three straight top five finishes here earlier in the week in two super-G's and Saturday's downhill, in which she was third. "This week, when I arrived I wanted to be on the podium and this morning I said I already have a good week in Cortina, and I would be happy when I go home," Montillet said. "When you know you can win and you're skiing well, it's much easier." For the second day in a row, snow fell during the race and the course was shortened by 400 meters. France's Ingrid Jacquemod, who posted the fastest time in Tuesday's first training session, fell during her run. Along with Kildow, the other surprise of the day was the ninth-place finish by Chimene Alcott, the best downhill result by a British woman in the World Cup era. The women's circuit resumes in the Slovenian resort of Maribor next weekend with a slalom and giant slalom.
results 
 

17/01/2004 12:40
   
Gerg wins downhill in snowstorm
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) _ Following two third-place finishes earlier in the week, Germany's Hilde Gerg mastered the Olympia delle Tofane course Saturday and won a World Cup downhill. With the course shortened slightly due to a heavy snow falling during the race, Gerg posted a winning time. 
 
 
17/01/2004 12:00
 
Ladies standing disciplines
Downhill:
GERG 385
GOETSCHL 360
MONTILLET 316
DORFMEISTER 255

Slalom:
PAERSON 480
HOSP 246
SCHILD ...  
 
 
17/01/2004 10:40
   
Men's World Cup downhill canceled
 
WENGEN Switzerland (AP) _ Heavy snowfalls forced the cancelation of a men's World Cup downhill Saturday on the famed Lauberhorn course. There was no decision yet where or if the downhill would be rescheduled. Course workers were frantically trying to clear the snow and prepare the piste for a slalom Sunday. Bad weather has plagued the circuit for the past couple of months and it was clear early in the week the downhill at the classic resort was in danger. A pair of men's downhill races were planned for Friday and Saturday, with a slalom on Sunday, but both downhills were wiped out. Two training sessions were scrapped Wednesday and Thursday because of the poor weather and consequently forced the cancelation of Friday's downhill as International Ski Federation rules require skiers have at least one training session ahead of the race. Friday's downhill was originally scheduled to take place in Bormio, Italy, in December but was moved to Chamonix and then Wengen because of repeated bad weather. It has now been rescheduled for Thursday in Kitzbuehel.
 
 
17/01/2004 09:54

An Austrian feels at home in Cortina
 
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) _ Renate Goetschl comes from the small, rural village of Obdach in central Austria. It is an area better known for auto racing than skiing, with the Austrian Grand Prix's A1-Ring circuit in Spielberg located a few kilometers (miles) down the road. Goetschl has won races in Austria before, but this northeastern Italian resort, just south of the Austrian border, has become her preferred stop on the World Cup circuit. Goetschl's super-G win Friday gave her five victories in Cortina, matching the record first set by local favorite Isolde Kostner of Italy. "Cortina has always been one of my favorite places, so it's always nice to win here," Goetschl said. "When I retire I'll return here to shop and spend a vacation." Kostner, still regaining her form after suffering a concussion in training last season, finished 20th. Goetschl, the 2000 overall World Cup champion, has already returned to top form after tearing up her knee two seasons ago. Last year she won two races here, her first since the injury, and with two downhills on the program for Saturday and Sunday, she is threatening to take over the title of Cortina's "queen" from "Isi," which is how the locals refer to Kostner, who hails from nearby Val Gardena. Goetschl is already referred to as the "speed queen" in Austria, according to Heinz Proller, a ski commentator for Austrian TV. "Renate is the more complete skier," Proller said. "She also can ski giant slalom and slalom. It's surprising she has never won a giant slalom. She was the youngest to ever win a slalom at 17. Kostner is very good on straight downhills, while Renate is a very good all around skier and the tougher girl. They are both very ambitious." Kostner, 28 like Goetschl, was feeling good entering Friday's race after posting the third fastest time in Thursday's downhill training. She lost time in her super-G run by taking a couple of turns too wide, causing the hopeful crowd to let out a loud gasp. "To err is human and to ski poorly is human also," Kostner said. "I skied how I wanted to today, I just didn't have the peace of mind to take the curves well." Proller said Kostner is "close" to winning again. "It's in her head now," he said of the amiable Italian. "If she focuses, she will win again for sure." Martina Ertl of Germany was the runner-up Friday, 0.43 seconds behind Goetschl's winning time of 1 minute, 10.59 seconds, and countrywoman Hilde Gerg finished third, 0.43 seconds back. The victory was Goetschl's fourth this season and it moved her within 72 points of Swedish technical expert Anja Paerson atop the overall World Cup standings. Paerson finished 14th. Goetschl said she wasn't thinking about the overall standings now. "It's a long season and there are a lot of races," she said. "But I feel confident now. I entered the season hoping to win one of the small globes for downhill or super-G, now maybe I'll win the big globe." Goetschl's 31st victory moved her into a tie with Switzerland's Erika Hess for fifth on the list of most career wins on the women's World Cup circuit. Annemarie Moser-Proell of Austria, who raced in the 1970s, leads the list with 62. Goetschl was skiing with an injured thumb after crashing out of a super-G in Veysonnaz, Switzerland on Sunday. It was the her second super-G triumph this season, in addition to two downhill wins. "At first, I didn't feel so good about this week, but I'm getting better and better," said Goetschl, who finished seventh in a super-G held here Wednesday. "The first race was good to get my confidence back." With the weekend approaching, a much bigger crowd was on hand for Friday's race compared to Wednesday's. Swiss fans jingled cow bells whenever one of their skiers was on the course and Goetschl supporters _ some of them undoubtedly from Obdach _ blew airhorns into the crisp mountain air. 
 
 
16/01/2004 13:43
   
 Wengen, Results Downhill Men Training 1
1 ( 5) RZEHAK Peter AUT 1:38.96
2 ( 10) STROBL Fritz AUT 1:39.59 + 0.63
3 ( 7) TRINKL Hannes AUT 1:39.81 + 0.85
4 ( 1) STROBL Josef AUT 1:39.83 + 0.87
5 ( 39) SELETTO Erik ITA 1:39.99 + 1.03
6 ( 4) MILLER Bode USA 1:40.13 + 1.17
7 ( 16) CUCHE Didier SUI 1:4 ... 
 
 
16/01/2004 12:45

Goetschl claims fourth win of season
 
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) _ Austria's Renate Goetschl won a super-G race Friday for her fourth victory of the season. The speed specialist moved to within 72 points of Swedish technical expert Anja Paerson atop the overall World Cup standings. Paerson finished 14th. Goetschl, the last of the top 30 ranked skiers to leave the starting gate, mastered the bottom section of the classic Olympia delle Tofane course and finished in 1 minute, 10.59 seconds. Martina Ertl of Germany was the runner-up, 0.43 seconds behind, and countrywoman Hilde Gerg finished third, 0.43 seconds back. Goetschl celebrated her fifth win in Cortina by swinging one of her poles wildly in the finish area. Local favorite Isolde Kostner of Italy, who finished 20th, also has five wins on the Tofane. Goetschl was skiing with an injured thumb after crashing out of a super-G in Veysonnaz, Switzerland on Sunday. It was the Austrian's second super-G triumph this season. She also has two downhill wins. Canada's Genevieve Simard, who claimed her first career victory in a super-G held here Wednesday, fell near the end of her run after posting two excellent intermediate times. She took a wide turn and her left ski went through a gate, causing her to lose control and slide down the course for about 50 meters (yards). She appeared to injure her left leg. Promising 19-year-old Maria Riesch of Germany finished seventh after posting her best career result of second in Wednesday's race and leading Thursday's downhill training. The top American skier was Maine native Kirsten Clarke in ninth place. With the weekend approaching, a much bigger crowd was on hand for Friday's race compared to Wednesday. Swiss fans jingled cow bells whenever one of their skiers were on the course and Goetschl supporters from nearby Austria blew airhorns into the crisp mountain air. The snow on the course was in perfect racing condition and a few clouds made for partly sunny conditions in this spectacular resort, known as the "Queen" of the Dolomites. Two downhills are scheduled for the Tofane on Saturday and Sunday.
 
 
15/01/2004 22:48
   
Men's downhill wiped out by heavy snowfalls
WENGEN, Switzerland (AP) _ A men's World Cup downhill race scheduled for Friday was canceled after final training was wiped out by heavy snowfalls, organizers announced. Overnight snow, which continued relentlessly through Thursday morning, prevented race workers from preparing the famed Lauber ... 
 
 
14/01/2004 12:21

Canada's Simard wins first World Cup race
 
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) _ Canada's Genevieve Simard claimed her first World Cup title Wednesday by winning a super-G race on the classic Tofane course. Simard was superb on the top part of the steep and twisty layout and none of the top favorites could come close to matching her. Her winning time was 1 minute, 13.05 seconds. Maria Riesch of Germany was the runner-up, a distant 0.65 seconds behind. Another German, Hilde Gerg, finished third, 0.78 seconds back. Gerg, who won the last super-G on the circuit in Veysonnaz, Switzerland on Sunday, vaulted ahead of Austria's Michaela Dorfmeister atop the super-G standings. Dorfmeister finished a surprising 25th. Caroline Lalive of the United States was fourth, 0.85 seconds behind, for her best result since injuring her knee in Innsbruck last season. Pre-race favorite Renate Goetschl, who competed with an injured thumb after crashing on Sunday, finished seventh. Overall World Cup leader Anja Paerson of Sweden had trouble with a gate midway through her run that also affected several other skiers. She finished 20th, 1.68 seconds back. The 24-year-old Simard, in her sixth World Cup season, said she was more confident after finishing sixth in Veysonnaz. Her previous best performance on the World Cup circuit was a third in a giant slalom in Berchtesgaden last season. The Val Morin, Quebec native was fourth in the super-G at last season's world championships in St. Moritz. Simard trains often with Lalive, her best friend on the circuit. Lalive's teammate Julia Mancuso finished 10th, placing two Americans in the top 10. Wednesday's race was originally scheduled for St. Moritz last month, but was moved to Cortina due to poor conditions in the Swiss resort. The conditions in Cortina on Wednesday were perfect, with the jagged Tofane peaks that tower over the race course bathed in sunshine amid deep blue skies. Another super-G is scheduled for the Olympia delle Tofane course on Friday, with two downhills on the program for Saturday and Sunday.
results
 
 
 
13/01/2004 14:27
   
Cortina's classic Tofane course is set for week of racing
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) _ A downhill training session Tuesday kicked off a week of skiing on the classic course of the women's World Cup circuit. France's Ingrid Jacquemod posted the fastest time on the 2.49-kilometer-long Olympia delle Tofane course, clocking 1 minute, 33.35 seconds.
 
 
13/01/2004 11:33
 
Bad weather forces rescheduling of downhill training
WENGEN, Switzerland (AP) _ A training session for a pair of men's World Cup downhill races has been rescheduled because of bad weather, the International Ski Federation said Tuesday. Wednesday's training session in the Swiss resort of Wengen had to be canceled and will now take place on Thursday. 
 
 
General Standing
 
World cup Leader

Raich Benjamin
28.02.1978 (Arzl im Pitzal)

Ski: Atomic
 
  Raich Benjamin  681
  Kjus Lasse  596
  Maier Hermann  555
  Miller Bode  497
  Walchhofer Michael  468
  Palander Kalle  467
  Eberharter Stefan  456
  Knauss Hans  454
  Schifferer Andreas  423
  Solbakken Bjarne  383
  
World cup Leader

Gцtschl Renate
06.08.1975 (Obdach)

Ski: Salomon

  Gцtschl Renate  869
  Paerson Anja  798
  Gerg Hilde  760
  Montillet Carole  692
  Ertl Martina  584
  Dorfmeister Michaela  569
  Hosp Nicole  506
  Meissnitzer Alexandra  484
  Clark Kirsten  443
  Riesch Maria  352

Next Races
 
22.01.2004 Kitzbьhel (AUT) DH
23.01.2004 Kitzbьhel (AUT) SG
24.01.2004 Kitzbьhel (AUT) DH
24.01.2004 Maribor (SLO) GS
25.01.2004 Kitzbьhel (AUT) SL
25.01.2004 Maribor (SLO) SL
27.01.2004 Schladming (AUT) NSL