Whistler: Raich leads 1st run of GS

Benjamin Raich claimed the first run of the World Cup giant slalom at Whistler Saturday. Raich, in a battle with Bode Miller for the lead of the World Cup overall standings clocked in at one minute 20.53 to lead Swiss Didier Cuche by two tenths of a second. Raich's Austrian teammate Hannes Reichelt was third .26 of a second back.
    Ted Ligety, with a shot at the giant slalom title finished fifth in the first of two runs about a half second back of the leader. Miller skied tactically to finish tenth a second and a tenth behind.
    Canadian John Kucera posted sixth in the run .55 off the leader.
    The men's GS standings are the most unsettled heading into the final weeks of the World Cup tour with seven men listed within 100 points of leader Daniel Albrecht. Albrecht came to a complete stop in his run, but managed to finish. With a handful of skiers remaining to take to the course he was in 28th with just 30 skiers being awarded a chance in the second run.

Benjamin Raich claimed the first run of the World Cup giant slalom at Whistler Saturday. Raich, in a battle with Bode Miller for the lead of the World Cup overall standings clocked in at one minute 20.53 to lead Swiss Didier Cuche by two tenths of a second. Raich's Austrian teammate Hannes Reichelt was third .26 of a second back.
    Ted Ligety, with a shot at the giant slalom title finished fifth in the first of two runs about a half second back of the leader. Miller skied tactically to finish tenth a second and a tenth behind.
    Canadian John Kucera posted sixth in the run .55 off the leader.
    The men's GS standings are the most unsettled heading into the final weeks of the World Cup tour with seven men listed within 100 points of leader Daniel Albrecht. Albrecht came to a complete stop in his run, but managed to finish. With a handful of skiers remaining to take to the course he was in 28th with just 30 skiers being awarded a chance in the second run.