Cuche rebounds to win Kvitfjell SG, take standings lead
And then there were seven, … well, six really.
With just the race at World Cup Finals next week left, there are still six men capable of winning the World Cup super G title after Sunday’s (March 13) race at Kvitfjell, Norway. But make no mistake, where Didier Cuche lost the lead of the downhill standings on Saturday, he took a strong hold on the super G title Sunday.
Cuche delivered a knock-down punch on a stacked field by taking the race with a masterful run for a .30 of a second win over Klaus Kroell, second for the second day in a row. Early running Joachim Puchner got third, his first career World Cup podium.
Cuche’s win put him control of the super G standings by 64points over the injured Georg Streitberger (fractured tibia left leg at Chamonix) and 68pts ahead of Ivica Kostelic. Mathmatically there are five men (not including Streitberger) who could overtake Cuche – but he needs only to finish seventh or better in Lanzerheide to earn the title even should Kostelic win the race.
Erik Guay, winner of the race a season ago, finished 11th and Canadian teammate Jan Hudec was 21st. No American finished in the top 30 to score a point.
Cuche had been leading the downhill standings before a pair of races in the discipline at Kvitfjell Friday and Saturday. Then a run in with FIS officials cost him 5,000 swiss francs. This win was a little redemption.
“This was one of the most difficult weeks of my career,” said Cuche. “I couldn’t sleep last night. … It is nice to win and to take the lead, but yesterday I was ready to end my career.”
Cuche, 36, made his World Cup debut in 1993, has won the downhill title three times (2010, 2008 and 2007) and the giant slalom title once (2009). He won the World Championship in super G in 2009 and won an Olympic silver medal in super G in 1998.
“I had a rage in my stomach,” Cuche said. “Frankly I’m surprised I was so fast. I felt the skis going well. … The victory is good.”
The Austrians were poised to pounce had Cuche faltered and packed in behind the Swiss maestro with four skiers – Kroell, Puchner, Hannes Reichelt and Michael Walchhofer – within .44 of a second of the winner.
Cuche image by Gepa
More to come
The SCOOP
by Hank McKee
Men’s World Cup super G, Kvitfjell, Norway, March 13, 2011
Equipment
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Cuche, Head/Head/Head
2 Kroell, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
3 Puchner, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
4 Reichelt, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
5 Walchhofer, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
6 Olsson, Head/Head/Head
7 Innerhofer, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
8 Kostelic, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
9 Janka, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
10 Kueng, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
Men’s World Cup super G, Kvitfjell, Norway, March 13, 2011… It is the 34th race of the men’s 39 race World Cup schedule with one cancelation. … Four races remain, all at World Cup Finals at Lenzerheide. … It is the sixth of seven scheduled super Gs this season with one remaining and the final of three races at Kvitfjell. … It is the 43rd World Cup race at Kvitfjell. … the 14th super G.
It is the 17th career World Cup win for Didier Cuche. … his fifth in super G. … It is his third career win at Kvitfjell and first in SG at the site. … It is his third win of the season and first in SG.
It is the 12th career World Cup podium for Klaus Kroell. … just his second in SG. … It is his fifth podium result at Kvitfjell and second in two days having placed second in DH March 12. … It is his fourth podium of the season and first in SG, the others all DH results.
It is the first career World Cup podium for Joachim Puchner. … his previous best had been fourth in DH at Chamonix earlier this season (Jan. 29). … He has scored in 13 Cup races this season (6DH, 4SG and 3CMB).
It is the 55th time Erik Guay has finished 11th or better in a World Cup race. … the 27th time in a SG. … and the tenth time at Kvitfjell. … It matches his fourth best result of the season, including the gold medal (DH) from World Championships. … It is the 27th career Cup scoring result for Jan Hudec. … his seventh of the season.
With four races remaining Ivica Kostelic (8th in race) leads the World Cup overall standings 1356-906 (450pts) over Cuche and cannot be caught for the title. … Carlo Janka (9th in race) is third with 767pts. … Ted Ligety (DNF in race) is the top American overall in 9th place with 588pts. … Guay (11th in race) the top Canadian in 28th with 283pts. … With one race remaining Cuche takes over the lead of the SG standings 291-227 (64pts) over Georg Streitberger (did not race). … Kostelic is third with 223pts. … Guay is the top North American on the SG list in 13th with 125pts. … Bode Miller (did not race) is top U.S. skier in 14th with 123pts. … Austria leads the men’s Nations Cup standings 5466-3938 over Switzerland. … France is third with 2829pts. … The U.S. is seventh with 1457pts and Canada ninth with 1159pts.
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Rank | Bib | FIS Code | Name | Year | Nation | Total Time | FIS Points |
1 | 22 | 510030 | CUCHE Didier | 1974 | SUI | 1:33.05 | 0.00 |
2 | 29 | 50753 | KROELL Klaus | 1980 | AUT | 1:33.35 | 3.42 |
3 | 7 | 51327 | PUCHNER Joachim | 1987 | AUT | 1:33.39 | 3.87 |
4 | 20 | 50742 | REICHELT Hannes | 1980 | AUT | 1:33.47 | 4.78 |
5 | 16 | 50041 | WALCHHOFER Michael | 1975 | AUT | 1:33.49 | 5.01 |
6 | 40 | 501076 | OLSSON Hans | 1984 | SWE | 1:33.56 | 5.81 |
7 | 21 | 293006 | INNERHOFER Christof | 1984 | ITA | 1:33.61 | 6.38 |
8 | 19 | 380260 | KOSTELIC Ivica | 1979 | CRO | 1:33.63 | 6.61 |
9 | 17 | 511313 | JANKA Carlo | 1986 | SUI | 1:33.67 | 7.06 |
10 | 4 | 511139 | KUENG Patrick | 1984 | SUI | 1:33.98 | 10.59 |
11 | 12 | 102263 | GUAY Erik | 1981 | CAN | 1:34.00 | 10.82 |
12 | 15 | 192746 | THEAUX Adrien | 1984 | FRA | 1:34.09 | 11.85 |
13 | 5 | 50600 | GOERGL Stephan | 1978 | AUT | 1:34.18 | 12.87 |
14 | 18 | 51215 | BAUMANN Romed | 1986 | AUT | 1:34.32 | 14.47 |
15 | 30 | 191746 | DE TESSIERES Gauthier | 1981 | FRA | 1:34.40 | 15.38 |
16 | 27 | 560447 | SPORN Andrej | 1981 | SLO | 1:34.46 | 16.06 |
17 | 6 | 191591 | BERTRAND Yannick | 1980 | FRA | 1:34.55 | 17.09 |
18 | 36 | 180570 | ROMAR Andreas | 1989 | FIN | 1:34.56 | 17.20 |
18 | 2 | 511383 | FEUZ Beat | 1987 | SUI | 1:34.56 | 17.20 |
20 | 47 | 510767 | HOFFMANN Ambrosi | 1977 | SUI | 1:34.57 | 17.32 |
21 | 33 | 102271 | HUDEC Jan | 1981 | CAN | 1:34.58 | 17.43 |
22 | 23 | 500150 | JAERBYN Patrik | 1969 | SWE | 1:34.63 | 18.00 |
23 | 13 | 510747 | GRUENENFELDER Tobias | 1977 | SUI | 1:34.70 | 18.80 |
24 | 3 | 560332 | JERMAN Andrej | 1978 | SLO | 1:34.72 | 19.02 |
25 | 8 | 292514 | HEEL Werner | 1982 | ITA | 1:34.73 | 19.14 |
26 | 41 | 421650 | BJERKESTRAND Iver | 1987 | NOR | 1:34.77 | 19.59 |
27 | 11 | 421328 | SVINDAL Aksel Lund | 1982 | NOR | 1:34.82 | 20.16 |
28 | 14 | 292455 | FILL Peter | 1982 | ITA | 1:34.87 | 20.73 |
29 | 53 | 53817 | FRANZ Max | 1989 | AUT | 1:34.91 | 21.19 |
29 | 26 | 293550 | MARSAGLIA Matteo | 1985 | ITA | 1:34.91 | 21.19 |
31 | 28 | 421483 | JANSRUD Kjetil | 1985 | NOR | 1:34.93 | 21.42 |
32 | 35 | 561216 | KLINE Bostjan | 1991 | SLO | 1:34.95 | 21.64 |
33 | 50 | 380292 | ZRNCIC-DIM Natko | 1986 | CRO | 1:34.96 | 21.76 |
34 | 52 | 191740 | CLAREY Johan | 1981 | FRA | 1:34.97 | 21.87 |
35 | 55 | 150398 | BANK Ondrej | 1980 | CZE | 1:35.07 | 23.01 |
36 | 25 | 192653 | FREY Thomas | 1984 | FRA | 1:35.15 | 23.92 |
37 | 9 | 510890 | ZURBRIGGEN Silvan | 1981 | SUI | 1:35.17 | 24.15 |
38 | 49 | 534939 | FISHER Erik | 1985 | USA | 1:35.29 | 25.52 |
39 | 46 | 511142 | LUEOEND Vitus | 1984 | SUI | 1:35.33 | 25.97 |
40 | 39 | 294911 | PATSCHEIDER Hagen | 1988 | ITA | 1:35.35 | 26.20 |
41 | 31 | 561067 | PERKO Rok | 1985 | SLO | 1:35.53 | 28.25 |
42 | 32 | 510498 | ZUEGER Cornel | 1981 | SUI | 1:35.66 | 29.73 |
43 | 37 | 100558 | COOK Dustin | 1989 | CAN | 1:35.74 | 30.64 |
44 | 42 | 511529 | GISIN Marc | 1988 | SUI | 1:35.85 | 31.90 |
45 | 45 | 53936 | DUERAGER Markus | 1990 | AUT | 1:35.90 | 32.47 |
46 | 48 | 294277 | KLOTZ Siegmar | 1987 | ITA | 1:35.94 | 32.92 |
47 | 43 | 194167 | MUZATON Maxence | 1990 | FRA | 1:36.07 | 34.40 |
48 | 38 | 291459 | PARIS Dominik | 1989 | ITA | 1:36.20 | 35.88 |
49 | 24 | 531799 | FORD Tommy | 1989 | USA | 1:36.34 | 37.48 |
50 | 54 | 103271 | THOMSEN Benjamin | 1987 | CAN | 1:36.52 | 39.53 |
51 | 56 | 170131 | FAARUP Christoffer | 1992 | DAN | 1:40.88 | 89.20 |
Did not start 1st run | |||||||
34 | 561087 | MARKIC Gasper | 1986 | SLO | |||
Did not finish 1st run | |||||||
51 | 192932 | FAYED Guillermo | 1985 | FRA | |||
44 | 533866 | NYMAN Steven | 1982 | USA | |||
10 | 201606 | KEPPLER Stephan | 1983 | GER | |||
1 | 534562 | LIGETY Ted | 1984 | USA |