Val d’Isere: Janka wins first World Cup in the GS

Swiss Carlo Janka won his first World Cup race today, taking the giant slalom in Val d’Isere, France. It is the 22-year-old’s second career podium, launching him into third in the overall points race. Italian Massimiliano Blardone took second, .20 seconds behind and French Gauthier De Tessieres came in third in front of the home crowd.

American Ted Ligety, reigning World Cup giant slalom champion, was the only American in the top 20, finishing in twelfth after a near miss in his first run.
Swiss Carlo Janka won his first World Cup race today, taking the giant slalom in Val d’Isere, France. It is the 22-year-old’s second career podium, launching him into third in the overall points race. Italian Massimiliano Blardone took second, .20 seconds behind, and French Gauthier De Tessieres came in third in front of the home crowd.
   
American Ted Ligety, reigning World Cup giant slalom champion, was the only American in the top 20, finishing in twelfth after a near miss in his first run.

“[Ligety] made a fantastic recovery, he should have gone out but with his effort and determination to get down to the bottom he made it. To be in the top ten after the first run was amazing,” says U.S. head coach Sasha Rearick.

Inconstant light and rough course conditions took their toll on later racers, including Ligety, prompting course workers to reapply blue dye to provide definition.

“At the end it was just a matter of who had the biggest balls and put in the fall line the most, and apparently I didn’t have the biggest balls to do that today,” says Ligety.

Fellow American Bode Miller was visibly frustrated after his second run, and will continue to seek his first GS podium of the season. He finished 24th.

Overall points leader Aksle Svindal of Norway will maintaining his grip on the lead. He came in fourth even after some early trouble in his second run. 

The site of the 2009 World Championships will host the men’s slalom tomorrow with U.S. starters Ted Ligety, Bode Miller, Tim Jitloff, Cody Marshall and Jimmy Cochran.

The SCOOP

By Hank McKee

Equipment

Men’s Giant Slalom, Val d’Isere, France, Dec. 13, 2008

1 Janka, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

2 Blardone, Dynastar/Lange/Look

3 DeTessieres, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol

4 Svindal, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

5 Cuche, Head/Head/Tyrolia

6 Moelgg, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol

7 Larsson, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

8 Schoerghofer, Fischer/Lange/Fischer

9 Reichelt, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer

10 Kostelic, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer

Men’s Giant Slalom, Val d’Isere, France, Dec. 13, 2008. … It is the ninth race of the men’s 38 race 2008-09 World Cup schedule. … The third of eight scheduled GS’s. … It is the second of a three race set at Val d’Isere including Friday’s make-up combined from Beaver Creek. … It is the 146th Cup race scheduled – at least in part – at Val d’Isere. … The 39th Cup GS and and 21st for men at the site. … Michael Von Gruenigen holds the GS win mark at Val d’Isere with four. … There are 80 starters.

It is the first career World Cup win for Carlo Janka. … His second podium after placing second in the Lake Louise DH Nov. 29. … He has recorded 13 scoring finishes in 30 Cup starts.

It is the 15th career World Cup podium for Massimiliano Blardone. … It is his first result better than 12th this season. … And the second podium of the day for the Italians having also collected a second from Manuela Moelgg at La Molina, Spain.

It is by far the best result of Gauthier DeTessieries career and his first podium. … His previous best had been 15th, once in GS at Flachau Dec. 21, 2004 and in SG at Hinterstoder Dec. 20, 2006.

Ted Ligety in 12th is his worst GS finish of the season, the other two being podiums. … Bode Miller in 24th marks the only time in his World Cup career he has finished in the position. … The result ends a two race DNF string. … It is the 24th career scoring result for Jean-Philippe Roy. … It is his 13th best GS result.

Svindal extends his overall lead over Benjamin Raich (1st run DNF) 395-293. … Carlo Janka vaults to third place at 291. … Ligety is the top American in seventh with 207pts. … Didier Cuche (5th in race) leads the GS standings 165-162 over Ligety. Janka is third at 158.