Ligety dashes French hopes to win third straight Cup GS

The French were hopeful. Thomas Fanara had thrown himself down the Gran Risa slope at Alta Badia, recording the fastest second run time and had moved into first place. Cyprien Richard had won the first run and still sat in the start house. But Ted Ligety never blinked and the French hopes were dashed.

Ligety had been the only racer with a realistic chance to unseat Richard, sitting just .15 back after one.

He is on a roll and confident and charged his way to take Fanara by a half second. It looked, momentarily, as if Richard might manage to hold off the American as he had moved in front half way down the tough, icy flanks. Then he ran into trouble, bobbled slighty, and slid into second, .14 behind the red bib. Ligety had won his third straight GS and preserved what so far is a perfect GS record. The Frenchmen were second and third.

“This is a dream come true,” said Ligety in the finish, “Especially with three in a row. I just feel really lucky to have won today because Cyprien was the best skier today. He made the mistake and I just got lucky in that sense.”

He said the hill was “crazy, crazy icy,” and said his “secret” was good physical conditioning and and great skis.

“In the first run there were really only three guys who skied fantastic,” said U.S. coach Sasha Rearick. “Ted, Richard and Aksel (Lund Svindal). It was quite impressive skiing and fun to watch. Then in the second run the French brought it. Across the board, all of the French guys. Fanara laid down some of the best skiing I’ve seen and then Ted put down a great run. … It was a great competition and it’s fun to come out on top.”

It is Ligety’s eighth career World Cup win all coming in GS. While he had skied well previously at Alta Badia – considered by many to be the consummate GS of the World Cup tour – he had not previously made a GS podium at the site. He becomes the second American to ever win an Alta Badia GS, the other being Bode Miller in 2002. Ligety did podium in two slaloms at Alta Badia (2006&2007)

There were some interesting results behind the leaders. Bibs from way back in the pack placed well, with Norwegian Leif Kristian Haugen and another French, Thomas Frey, coming from the 62nd and 57th starts respectively to place 11th and 12th.

Bode Miller, the only North American outside of Ligety to make a second run, finished 15th, struggling to find the rhythm in the first run.

Gepa photo.

The SCOOP
By Hank McKee

Equipment
Men’s World Cup GS, Alta Badia, Italy, Dec. 19, 2010
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Ligety, Head/Head/Head
2 Richard, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
3 Fanara, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
4 Cuche, Head/Head/Head
5 Bank, Elan/Nordica/Elan
6 Svindal, Head/Head/Head
7 Olsson, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
8 DeTessieres, Head/Head/Head
9 Goergl, Fischer/Lange/Fischer
10 Simoncelli, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

Men’s World Cup Giant Slalom, Alta Badia, Italy, Dec. 19, 2010. … It is the 12th race of the men’s 138 race 2010-2011 World Cup schedule. … the tenth to be held. … It is the fourth GS on the slate and third held with the opener at Soelden having been canceled. …. It is the 26th Cup race hosted by Alta Badia. … The 22nd GS. … Finn Kalle Palander and Italian Alberto Tomba are the three time winners of GS’s at the site.

It is the eighth career World Cup win for Ted Ligety, all in GS, and his third of the season having swept all three GS’s held to date. … It is the 216th U.S. World Cup win and fifth of the season (sixth including Lindsey Vonn’s win the same day in Val d’Isere). … Ligety is eighth all-time on the U.S. win list and is one win behind both Steve Mahre and Picabo Street.

It is the third career World Cup podium for Cyprien Richard, all in GS, and his second at Alta Badia having been third last season.

It is the first career World cup podium for GS specialist Thomas Fanara. … best previous result had been fifth, twice, at Adelboden in 2006 and Soelden in 2008.

It is the sixth scoring result of the season for Bode Miller, five of them placings between eight and 17.

Ligety takes over the lead of the World Cup overall standings 321-315 over Silvan Zurbriggen (did not qualify for 2nd run). … Didier Cuche (4th in race) and Michael Walchhofer (did not race) are third with 294pts each. … Eric Guay is top Canadian overall in 24th with 106pts. … Ligety leads the GS standings 300-165 over Aksel Lund Svindal (6th in race). … Richard is third with 142pts. … Jean-Philippe Roy (did not qualify for 2nd run) is the top Canadian in 32nd place with 14pts.

Austria leads the men’s Nations Cup 1798-1255 over Switzerland. … France is third with 856pts. … Canada is sixth with 501pts and the U.S. seventh with 470pts.