TORINO: Alpine: Unheralded Bourque, Chenal set pace in first run of men's GS

By Published On: February 20th, 2006Comments Off on TORINO: Alpine: Unheralded Bourque, Chenal set pace in first run of men's GS

TORINO: Alpine: Unheralded Bourque, Chenal set pace in first run of men’s GS{mosimage}SESTRIERE, Italy – Upstart Canada matched powerhouse Austria with three racers in the top 10 Monday in the first run of the men’s giant slalom.

With Bode Miller offering the only U.S. hope to do any damage in run two, the Canadians got some stellar efforts from unheralded World Cuppers.

With results still provisional, Francois Bourque put forth a blistering run to record the fastest time, 1 minute, 16.61 seconds. France’s Joel Chenal was second, .19 back, and Austrian Hermann Maier and Sweden’s Fredrick Nyberg tied for third, .22 back of the leader.

Bourque, 21, has had a solid Games thus far, placing eighth in super G, 16th in downhill and 21st in combined. He has just two career World Cup podiums, both thirds — in the Alta Badia GS Dec. 18, 2005, and the Garmisch super G Feb. 20, 2005.

“I skied well, those were tough conditions, but I broke the ice in the super G and combined downhill,” Bourque said. “The pressure was a little different, but my chances are as good as they were in Alta Badia (third) on a similar course. … If you make any mistakes, it really carries with you, and I was one of the cleanest on the top.”

Miller was the only one of four U.S. entries to remain in contention, and he was .97 back, in 12th place. He told reporters that he hit a rock on course.

Coaches said the edge on Miller’s ski was rolled back from his foot to the tail, a part of the ski he relies on heavily.

Between runs, Miller’s service man Robbie Kristan attempted to repair the edge so Miller could use the skis for the second run, which was set by American coach Mike Morin.

Miller spent exactly 11 minutes inspecting the second run of the course.

Daron Rahlves and Ted Ligety, winner of the men’s combined gold, did not finish. Veteran Erik Schlopy was 17th, 1.73 back.

Chenal, 23rd in the 2002 Games’ GS, has four World Cup podiums — all in GS — and one win, but that came on Dec. 19, 1999, in Alta Badia.

“It’s good, I had a really good run, and I’m happy with how I did in the first,” Nyberg said after run one. “I like it but it’s really icy, and some parts it’s a little bumpy. I guess the machine has been grooming away the snow.”

Benni Raich was fifth, Aksel Lund Svindal sixth, Stephan Goergl seventh and Italian Max Blardone eighth. Canadians Thomas Grandi and Jean Philippe Roy rounded out the top 10.

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