Super-G: Svindal not beaten by the Ciaslat meadows
The Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal has won the Super-G of Gardena/Groeden. The reigning overall World Cup winner won ahead of Carlo Janka (SUI; +0,12seconds) and Patrick Staudacher (ITA; +0,17seconds). Whereas Svindal managed to ski through the Ciaslat meadows without any problems, numerous racers fell there. For example last year’s winner Werner Heel (ITA). And top favourite Didier Cuche (SUI) was also disqualified.
This year’s Super-G on the Saslong was charaterized by lots of disqualifications. Already 6 out of 22 racers fell or missed a gate. Andrej Jerman (SLO), Christof Innerhofer (ITA) und Werner Heel (ITA) all fell. Luckily noone injured themselves.
The key section of the Super-G was definitely the exit of the Ciaslat meadows. Not only Heel and Jerman fell here, but a number of racers missed a gate exactly at this point. Didier Cuche (SUI), the fastest in yesterday’s Downhill Training, also missed a gate, but already in the top section of the race course.
Aksel Lund Svindal who had shown in the two training runs that he was one of the favourites, obviously inspected the piste best of all today and was able to keep the ideal line at the key point. Svindal on his race: The race course was even slower than I expected after the inspection. I had to concentrate even more on a perfect line, attack and ski as flawless as possible. And I seem to have succeeded in doing just that.“
Carlo Janka won three races in Lake Louise and was disqualified as many times in Val d’Isere. He finishd second here in Gardena/Groeden, 0,15 seconds behind Svindal. Janka seemed very happy when he crossed the finish line and said: „My race wasn't exactly perfect. And at the same time my glasses shifted in the middle of the race. So I can actually be very happy with a 2nd place here. Particularly as you always have to reckon with Svindal. And regarding the duel between Austria and Switzerland: today we hit back.“
Super-G World Champion Patrick Staudacher saved the host’s honour: After the two local skiers Werner Heel and Christof Innerhofer both crashed out, Staudacher achieved 3rd place. He has only ever achieved 6th place before here in Gardena/Groeden.
The Austrian Mario Scheiber achieved a surprising 4th place. It is over two years since he last achieved a top position. 2nd-best Austrian is Benjamin Raich placed 9th, and hot favourite Walchhofer only finished 13th. The slightly injured Bode Miller (USA) showed once again that he like the race course here in Gardena/Groeden. He achieved 5th place notwithstanding his sprained ankle.
Tomorrow the races continue here in Gardena/Groeden with the Men’s Downhill. Kick off is at 12.15.
