Simoncelli wins first of two men's World Cup GS races in Yong Pyong

By Published On: March 4th, 2006Comments Off on Simoncelli wins first of two men's World Cup GS races in Yong Pyong

Simoncelli wins first of two men’s World Cup GS races in Yong PyongPYEONGCHANG, South Korea – Italy’s Davide Simoncelli raced to his first World Cup giant slalom victory of the season Saturday, beating countryman Massimiliano Blardone by 0.08 seconds at Yong Pyong Ski Resort.

Davide Simoncelli, second in December in Alta Badia, had a two-run time of 2:13.63. He failed to complete the giant slalom in the Olympics at Sestriere.

“I’m happy. At Sestriere, I did not do so good, so today was perfect,” he said.

Simoncelli was aggressive Saturday in the second run.

“We pushed it in the steeper, and in the steeper I won the race,” he said.

Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindel finished third in 2:13.83. Sweden’s Fredrik Nyberg was fourth, followed by Austria’s Benjamin Raich and Canada’s Thomas Grandi.

Others werent so lucky. Nineteen skiers, including all three Koreans, failed to complete the afternoon run after running foul of its wave-like inclines and daunting initial drop.

Erik Schlopy was the lone U.S. finisher, placing eighth in 2:15.29.

Blardone leads the giant slalom standings after six races with 344 points. Raich is second with 331, followed by Nyberg (274) and Simoncelli (269).

Saturday’s race was decided in the final seconds, with several skiers blasting in to steal the lead.

Svindel sat in the lead until the Italian blew in to upset the leaderboard.

“I had almost half a second down to the fourth so they skied very good. Then you get beaten. That’s the way it is,” he said.

While the sun shone on the Italians, it wasnt a good day to be American. Torino gold medallist Ted Ligety did not to start the first leg and Daron Rahlves did not finish the second. Schlopy clawed his way from 19th to a momentary fourth before he was eventually relegated to eighth.

Both Svindel and Simoncelli praised the conditions. Three days of light snow until Thursday and a week of water injections left the course in good conditions in South Korea, bolstering Pyeongchang’s hopes of hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics.

The 50 skiers get another shot on the Rainbow 1 course Sunday before the eighth and final giant slalom world cup is held in Sweden.

Olympic bronze-medalist Hermann Maier, who finished 23rd Saturday, said he may be suffering from a post-Games letdown.

“I lost a little after the Olympics. It was the biggest goal for me this season – now it’s maybe a bit more apres-ski,” Maier said.

-The Associated Press

Men’s giant slalom
Yong Pyong, Korea
March 4, 2006

1. Davide Simoncelli, ITA 2:13.63
2. Massimiliano Blardone, ITA 2:13.71
3. Aksel Lund Svindal, NOR 2:13.83
4. Fredrik Nyberg, SWE 2:14.28
5. Benjamin Raich, AUT 2:14.81
6. Thomas Grandi, CAN 2:15.05
7. Stephan Goergl, AUT 2:15.09
8. Erik Schlopy, USA 2:15.29
9. Joel Chenal, FRA 2:15.53
10. Thomas Fanara, FRA 2:25.56
10. Kalle Palander, FIN 2:15.56
12. Marco Buechel, LIE 2:15.64
13. Didier Defago, SUI 2:15.79
14. Arnold Rieder, ITA 2:15.88
15. Raphael Burtin, FRA 2:15.93
16. Daniel Albrecht, SUI 2:16.07
17. Giorgio Rocca, ITA 2:16.10
18. Ales Gorza, SLO 2:16.21
19. Rainer Schoenfelder, AUT 2:16.28
20. Michael Walchhofer, AUT 2:16.41
21. Felix Neureuther, GER 2:16.53
21. Patrick Bechter, AUT 2:18,.53
23. Hermann Maier, AUT 2:16.55
24. Gauthier DeTessieres, FRA 2:16.73
25. Didier Cuche, SUI 2:17.01
26. Jukka Rajala, FIN 2:17.14
Other North Americans:
DNQ 2nd: Ryan Semple, Michael Janyk, CAN; Chip Knight, USA.
DNS: Ted Ligety, USA
DNF 1st: James Cochran, USA; Jean-Philippe Roy, CAN.
DNF 2nd: Francois Bourgeat, CAN; Daron Rahlves, USA

THE SCOOP
By Hank McKee

Equipment
Men’s GS, Yong Pyong, March 4, 2006

Skier, skis/boots/bindngs
1. Simoncelli, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
2. Blardone, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
3. Svindal, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
4. Nyberg, Fischer/Nordica/Fischer
5. Raich, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
6. Grandi, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
7. Goergl, Fischer/Lange/Fischer
8. Schlopy, Nordica/Nordica/Marker
9. Chenal, Dynastar/Lange/Look
10. Fanara, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
10. Palander, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

It is the 30th event of the men’s 34 race, 4 combined World Cup schedule. … It is the sixth of eight scheduled giant slaloms. … It is the first of two back-to-back GS’s scheduled for Yong Pyong, Korea.

It is the second career World Cup win for Davide Simoncelli, the previous coming at Alta Badia Dec. 21, 2003. … It is his second podium of the season after finishing second to Massimiliano Blardone at Alta Badia this season (Dec. 18). … Simoncelli is currently fourth in the GS standings, his best career finish being fifth in GS in the 2004 season. … He is the first Italian to win at Yongpyong in the seven races conducted at the site.

It is the seventh career podium for Massimiliano Blardone, all in GS, and all first- or second-place results. … It is his third podium this season having won Altba Badia and placing second at Kranjska Gora Dec. 21.

It is the fourth career podium, third of the season, for Aksel Svindal, his first in GS. … He was previously first in SG at Lake Louise Nov. 27 and third in combined at Kitzbuehel Jan. 22. … He has 28 results for the season (including Olympics) with 13 of them being top 10 results.

It is the 15th career top six result for Thomas Grandi. … His fifth of the season and third of the season in GS. … It is the 13th career top eight result for Erik Schlopy. … His third of the season all in GS.

Benjamin Raich (fifth in race) maintains the World Cup overall standings lead 1110-831 over Michael Walchhofer (20th in race) with eight races remaining one canceled race is not scheduled to be made up. … Bode Miller is third in the standings at 748, ahead of Hermann Maier (23rd in race) 743 and Daron Rahlves (2nd run DNF) 727. … Blardone takes control of the GS standings 344-331 over Raich, with Fredrik Nyberg (fourth in race) third at 274 and Simoncelli fourth at 269. … Thomas Grandi is the top North American at seventh in the standings with 201. … Bode Miller (did not race) is eighth at 198. … Winning margin is eight-hundredths of a second. … The top four skiers are within the same second. … Top 11 within two seconds.

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