Adelboden GS: Raich wins to take over points lead; Ligety 13th, Miller 14th

Adelboden GS: Raich wins to take over points lead; Ligety 13th, Miller 14th{mosimage}ADELBODEN, Switzerland – Austria’s Benjamin Raich overcame a late mistake to win Saturday’s World Cup giant slalom, the last before the Winter Olympics start next month in Torino.

Raich completed the treacherous Chuenisbaergli course in a two-run combined time of 2 minutes, 23.25 seconds for his second straight World Cup giant slalom victory.

Raich, who won last month at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, was fastest in the opening leg and was leading at the final split on the second run, but appeared to blow his lead when he slowed at the final breakover, coming to a near stop before attacking the following gate.

However, the technical expert still managed to cross 0.49 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger, Fredrik Nyberg of Sweden. Raich took over the lead in the World Cup overall standings.

The 37-year-old Nyberg was the oldest man to finish on a World Cup podium, beating the previous record set by Italy’s Kristian Ghedina, who was runner-up last season in a downhill at Chamonix, France, at age 35.

Kalle Palander of Finland and Stephan Goergl of Austria tied for third in 2:24.47.

Overall World Cup leader Daron Rahlves was 14th in the opening run and crashed out near the finish his second trip down. Overall champion Bode Miller was 15th after his left ski got stuck coming out of the start hut on his first run and finished 14th, 2.39 off the pace.

Ted Ligety, starting 47th in the first run, led the U.S. skiers by finishing 13th (2:25.52). Erik Schlopy 15th and Chip Knight collected the first GS points in his career, coming out of the No. 49 start to finish 18th.

OLN will televise coverage Sunday at 5 p.m. ET with a rebroadcast Tuesday at 5.

– The Associated Press/USSA