What Didier Cuche did between the bottom of the steep and the finish line left a crowd of World Cup veteran observers in a state of disbelief.

As the first race of the men’s World Cup season, the traditional giant slaloms above Soelden, approached its zenith, American Ted Ligety took a .35 of a second lead over the field with just Cuche  left to ski. The 35-year old Swiss master rode through the steeps of the Rettenbach Glacier over a rough and nasty course. He was – at the bottom of the pitch – .01 seconds behind. In the next seven or eight panels, over the flattest part of the course, the old downhill demonstrated old school gliding skills to win for a stunning six tenths of a second win.

Swiss youngster Carlo Janka had edged Italian Massimiliano Blardone for third. Benjamin Raich, the fourth place finisher in each of the last three contests in Soelden finished fifth to lead the host nation.

Ligety, second after the first run despite two costly errors, skied the second heat cleanly, carving through the jagged steeps with power putting down the hammer in an effort to steal the win away, and many in the finish arena felt he had. Cuche had other ideas.

“In both runs I lost six tenths (to Cuche) and that’s a lot to make up in two runs over one section of the course. ” said Ligety. He said he had made an error over a small rise in the first run, “and in the second I was a little late. I feel like it’s not quite there in the glide.”

Asked how he had managed to be so fast on the flats before the finish, Cuche tapped his belly and answered, “weight.”

The defending World Cup GS champion, Cuche also said it was preparation which allows him to continue racing as his age creeps up. “If you want to be really fast for a championships (or Olympics) you have to be professional in the preparation period as well.”

The choppy course he said was something a racer just has to be able to deal with. “Of course when you stand in the start and know the course is rough it makes you more nervous,” then he quickly waved a hand and said he meant no disrespect to the organizers, “who did a good job.”

With Cuche on top of the podium and Janka on the third step, few were feeling sorry for the Swiss, but the team has been hit hard by injuries in the last few months and both skiers were aware how critical their performance was to their national team.

“It is a goal for us to show as a team,” said Janka. “I’m just happy to be able to help the team to do well so far.”

Canadians Jean-Philippe Roy and Robbie Dixon had stellar runs, Roy in the morning heat and Dixon in the afternoon. Roy finished ninth matching his third best career result. Dixon starting third in the second run, took the lead and held it through nine skiers, eventually landing 16th.

“I did what I came here to do,” he said. “I would have been happy with one point.” This was better, he agreed.

Cuche photo by GEPA
Roy photo by GEPA

The SCOOP
By Hank McKee

Equipment:
Men’s Giant Slalom, Soelden, Austria, Oct. 25, 2009
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Cuche, Head/Head/Tyrolia
2 Ligety, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
3 Janka, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
4 Blardone, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
5 Raich, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
6 Jansrud, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
7 Grange, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
8 Simoncelli, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
9 Roy, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
10 Richard, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer

Men’s Giant Slalom, Soelden, Austria, Oct. 25, 2009. … It is the first race of 34 on the men’s 2009-2010 World Cup schedule. … It is the first of seven scheduled giant slaloms. … It is the 24th World Cup race held at Soelden and second this season following yesterday’s women’s race. … It is the 12th men’s race at Soelden. … Top five skiers on the start list reflect last season’s final GS standings: Cuche, Raich, Ligety, Blaredone, Svindal.

It is the tenth career World Cup win for Cuche, his third in GS, the other two in Sestriere last February  and at Adelboden Jan 5, 2002. … It is the second straight win for the Swiss men at Soelden as Daniel Albrecht won last season.

It is the 17th World Cup podium result for Ted Ligety. … His 11th in GS. … and his third straight at Soelden. … He was third last season and second in Oct. 2007.

It is the fourth career World Cup podium for Carlo Janka, his second in GS. … His first podium was last November 11 at Lake Louise (DH). … He is the reigning world champion in GS having won at Val d’Isere last Feb. 13. … Ligety also medaled in that event finishing second.

It is the fourth time Canadian Jean-Philippe Roy has finished ninth in a World Cup race, twice in slalom and twice in GS. … He has just two better results, from GS at Alta Badia Dec. 19, 2004 and in GS at Kranjska Gora Feb. 28 last season. … It matches the fourth best result for any Canadian at Soelden. … It is the seventh best career result for Robbie Dixon in any discipline, and his career best in GS. … It is the 55th Cup scoring result for Francois Bourque.  … Americans Tim Jitloff and Tommy Ford finished 31st and 32nd respectively, just missing the qualification for making a second run.

Men’s World Cup Giant Slalom, Soelden, Austria, Oct. 25, 2009