Cuche rebounds to win Kvitfjell SG, take standings lead

By Published On: March 13th, 2011Comments Off on Cuche rebounds to win Kvitfjell SG, take standings lead

didier CucheAnd 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.

Place   Kvitfjell
(NOR)
  Discipline   Super G
Date   13.03.2011   Category   FIS World Cup
Race codex   1197   Gender   M
Valid for FIS Points   YES   TD Name   Lang Roine (SWE)
       
  
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   

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About the Author: Hank McKee

In memoriam: The veteran of the staff, McKee started with Ski Racing in 1980. Over the seasons, he covered virtually every aspect of the sport, from the pro tours to junior racing, freestyle and World Cup alpine competition. He wrote the first national stories for many U.S. team stars, and was still around to report on their retirements. “Longevity has its rewards,” he said, “but it’s a slow process.”