Ligety claims second combined podium as Pinturault takes the win

Ted Ligety in Kitzbuehel (GEPA/Mario Kneisl)

It was exciting for a minute there. After one of the longest Hahnenkamm weekends ever, with organizers pushing the slalom leg of the final combined into the evening, it appeared both Ted Ligety and Bode Miller were firmly entrenched on the podium. Miller, though, was disqualified just five gates from the finish after a wild yet reasonably fast slalom run that saw him cross the line in third position.

Ted Ligety had already locked up second place behind Wengen combined runner-up Alexis Pinturault’s fabulous effort to take the win this time around.

“My slalom run was OK, it was sure better than in the classic slalom race,” said Ligety. “Alexis (Pinturault) is a great slalom skier so it’s not too bad to be after him. The crowd is great, there are not many places where you can attract a crowd like this one on a Sunday night.”

Miller, the fastest of the super G skiers to opt in on the combined start, launched a slalom leg that had him flailing more than once as he tore down a tough and beat up slalom course. He had held the lead through the first intermediate timer before succumbing to the slalom skills of Pinturault and Ligety. However, officials later confirmed that he did not pass gate 57, near the finish, correctly.

“It was big fight with Ted (Ligety) today, we were so close after the super G, but after us there were some very strong guys still up and I had no choice but wait and see if my run would be enough for a top placement,” Pinturault noted.

With Miller out of the picture, third place on the podium was wide open. To the delight of a large and vocal crowd of supporters, Marcel Hirscher, the 34^th starter in the evening after a lackluster super G earlier in the day, started .89 seconds behind, and was unable to pick up any ground on Pinturault. Still, even 1.47 back, he claimed third place and picked up 60 precious points on a day many wondered if he should even be racing considering the tough conditions in the super G.

“I always give it my 100 percent,  and today it was only good for a third place which is perfect! I’m happy with this third place and want to thank everyone for the support,” Hirscher said while addressing fans in the finish area.

The Americans also registered young gun Jared Goldberg in 11^th and Tim Jitloff in 13^th despite neither making the top 30 in the super G. Canadian rookie Morgan Pridy followed up his points from the super G with a 24th-place finish, and Andrew Weibrecht rounded out the North American scoring in 27th.

View more photos from today’s race in our gallery. 

The Scoop

Men’s World Cup super combined, Kitzbuehel, Austria, Jan. 26, 2014

Equipment – Skier, skis/boots/bindings

1 Pinturault, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

2 Ligety, Head/Head/Head

3 Hirscher, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

4 Mermillod Blondin, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer

5 Caviezel, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

6 Fill, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

7 Viletta, Nordica/Nordica/Marker

8 Janka, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

9 Murisier, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

10 Jansrud, Head/Head/Head

Men’s World Cup super combined, Kitzbuehel, Austria, Jan. 26, 2014. … It is the 84^th Hahnenkamm trophy race. … The 23^rd of 34 races on the men’s World Cup schedule and the second of two combined races. … There will be no World Cup title awarded in combined. The event included the super G held the same morning and a single run of slalom in the evening. It is the first time Kitzbuehel has used a super combined to determine its Hahnenkamm champion.

It is the sixth career World Cup win for Alexis Pinturault… his second in combined after winning Wengen Jan. 18, 2013. … It is his second win and fifth podium of the season. … He is the first Frenchman to win the Hahnenkamm combined since Henri Duvillard in 1972.

It is the 42nd career World Cup podium for Ted Ligety… his second in combined after winning Wengen Jan. 17. … It is his fifth World Cup podium of the season.

It is the 55^th career World Cup podium for Marcel Hirscher… his third in combined.

It is the fourth career score and a career-best result for Jared Goldberg. … It is the second best combined result of Tim Jitloff’s career, second only to an eighth at Bansko Feb. 26, 2011. … It is the third career World Cup scoring result for Morgan Pridy, his second coming earlier in the day in super G. … It is the fifth career World Cup score in combined for Andrew Weibrecht… the sixth for Steven Nyman.

Aksel Lund Svindal (DNF 2^nd in race) holds the lead of the World Cup overall standings 897-795 over Marcel Hirscher. … Alexis Pinturault is third with 669pts. … Ted Ligety is fourth with 529pts and Bode Miller seventh at 449pts. … Erik Guay leads Canada overall in 21^st with 261pts.

Ligety and Pinturault are tied for the lead of the combined standings with 180pts each. … Thomas Mermillod Blondin (fourth in race) is third in the standings with 90pts. … Pridy leads Canada in 33^rd with seven points.

Austria leads the mens Nations Cup 3658-2555 over France. … Italy is third with 2030pts. … The U.S. is sixth with 1537 and Canada ninth with 748pts.

Results