Italian scores first World Cup win at Alta Badia; Miller third, Spencer 11th for U.S.

Italian scores first World Cup win at Alta Badia; Miller third, Spencer 11th for U.S.Italy’s Davide Simoncelli scored a convincing victory — his first on the World Cup — in the giant slalom Sunday at Alta Badia, Italy.

For Simoncelli, 24, it was just his third World Cup podium finish — and all three have come at Alta Badia. He was second in a GS at the Italian resort a week ago, and also the runner-up in December 2002.

His time of 2:33.90 was more than a second in front of runner-up Kalle Palander of Finland (2:34.93). America’s Bode Miller finished third in 2:35.11.

“Any time I’m on the podium, it’s a good race,” said Miller, who won the first two giant slaloms of the season. “That’s my goal in GS. This one was my focus all week. … When guys ski the way they did today and they put down an unbelievably aggressive run like they did, they deserve to beat me.

U.S. skier Dane Spencer made the most of an opportunity on Sunday, landing in 11th place after finishing 30th — the last qualifying spot — in the first run. He had the second-fastest second run. It was Spencer’s second World Cup top-15; his best result remains 10th place in a GS at Adelboden in January 2002.

Daron Rahlves also qualified for the second run, finishing 14th in the first run, but had a rough second trip and wound up 28th. Chip Knight and Thomas Vonn did not qualify, and James Cochran didn’t finish the first run.

Thomas Grandi continued to ski well for Canada, finishing in sixth place. He was the only Canadian skier to qualify for the second run.

Ultimately, it was a great day for the home team, which had four men in the top 10. In addition to Simoncelli, Massimiliano Blardone was fourth, Arnold Rieder seventh and Alberto Schieppati celebrated a career-best eighth place.

Although Simoncelli made some slips on the early part of the icy course, he recovered well and powered over the line to the roars of the home crowd, at the resort where Italian superstar Alberto Tomba had won four races in the 1980s and 1990s.

Tomba, now working for television, was among the first to congratulate a beaming Simoncelli at the finish line as a large crowd celebrated.

“I was really nervous before the second run and I just couldn’t wait to get started,” said Simoncelli. “I made a few mistakes in the top section but that really woke me up and I knew I had to go for it then. I was aiming for top three here but I never expected to win — it’s wonderful.”

Alpine World Cup

Men’s Giant Slalom

Alta Badia, Italy

December 21, 2003

1. Davide Simoncelli (Italy) 2:33.90 (first run 1:15.62/second run 1:18.28)

2. Kalle Palander (Finland) 2:34.93 (1:15.85/1:19.08)

3. Bode Miller (U.S.) 2:35.11 (1:16.24/1:18.87)

4. Massimiliano Blardone (Italy) 2:35.33 (1:17.60/1:17.73)

5. Benjamin Raich (Austria) 2:35.89 (1:16.89/1:19.00)

6. Thomas Grandi (Canada) 2:36.00 (1:17.28/1:18.72)

7. Arnold Rieder (Italy) 2:36.12 (1:16.48/1:19.64)

8. Alberto Schieppati (Italy) 2:36.21 (1:17.39/1:18.82)

9. Lasse Kjus (Norway) 2:36.27 (1:16.89/1:19.38)

10. Joel Chenal (France) 2:36.67 (1:17.88/1:18.79)

11. Dane Spencer (U.S.) 2:36.71 (1:18.89/1:17.82)

12. Alexander Ploner (Italy) 2:36.75 (1:18.83/1:17.92)

13. Bjarne Solbakken (Norway) 2:36.78 (1:18.52/1:18.26)

14. Stephan Goergl (Austria) 2:37.04 (1:17.65/1:19.39)

15. Heinz Schilchegger (Austria) 2:37.05 (1:17.18/1:19.87)

16. Hans Knauss (Austria) 2:37.12 (1:17.88/1:19.24)

17. Aksel Lund Svindal (Norway) 2:37.21 (1:18.14/1:19.07)

18= Gauthier De Tessieres (France) 2:37.28 (1:18.47/1:18.81)

18= Didier Cuche (Switzerland) 2:37.28 (1:17.43/1:19.85)

20. Andreas Schifferer (Austria) 2:37.50 (1:18.32/1:19.18)

21. Didier Defago (Switzerland) 2:37.70 (1:18.11/1:19.59)

22. Michael Gufler (Italy) 2:37.78 (1:18.74/1:19.04)

23. Rainer Schoenfelder (Austria) 2:37.91 (1:17.99/1:19.92)

24. Raphael Burtin (France) 2:37.97 (1:18.55/1:19.42)

25. Truls Ove Karlsen (Norway) 2:38.47 (1:18.27/1:20.20)

26. Hermann Maier (Austria) 2:38.54 (1:17.98/1:20.56)

27. Sami Uotila (Finland) 2:40.31 (1:18.37/1:21.94)

28. Daron Rahlves (U.S.) 2:43.66 (1:17.74/1:25.92)

DNF 2nd: Christian Mayer (Austria), Andreas Ertl (Germany)

Other North Americans:

DNQ 2nd: Chip Knight, Thomas Vonn (U.S.); Francois Bourque, Julien Cousineau, Jean-Phillipe Roy (Canada)

DNF 1st: James Cochran (U.S.), Jeff Hume (Canada)

THE SCOOP

> by Hank McKee

Equipment

Men’s GS, Alta Badia, Dec. 21, 2003

Skier, skis/boots/bindings

1 Simoncelli, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

2 Palander, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

3 Miller, Rossignol/Nordica/Rossignol

4 Blaredone, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

5 Raich, Atomic/Lange/Atomic

6 Grandi, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol

7 Rieder, Atomic/Nordica/Atomic

8 Schieppati, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol

9 Kjus, Dynastar/Atomic/Look

10 Chenal, Dynastar/Lange/Look

It is the 13th of 38 scheduled men’s races, fourth of eight GS’s.

A big margin of victory at 1.03seconds, and it transfered on down the list. … 10th was 2.77 out. … 20th was 3.6 out.

It is the first career win for Davide Simoncelli in 12 scoring (all GS) finishes. … He has been 2nd twice, both times at Alta Badia. … His best result away from Alta Badia is 15th. … He is just the third Italian man to win at Alta Badia others being Richard Pramotton in ’86 and Alberto Tomba four times, the last in ’94. … The Italian men have not had four finishers in the top 10 of a World Cup since a super G at Laax 1/29/97. … In a GS since Kranjska Gora 12/20/92 … It is also the first win of the season for an Italian male.

It is the seventh podium of Kalle Palander’s career… all but one of the others are wins. … It is his third podium of the season. … It is the 19th podium for Bode Miller. … his third of the season.

Sixth is the second best result of Thomas Grandi’s career (after the podium at Park City in ’97) … And he’s been sixth twice this season, at Alta Badia both times. … 11th is the second best result of Dane Spencer’s career, bested only by a 10th at Adelboden in ’02. … It is his second top 15 of the season. … Daron Rahlves posted just his 11th career GS scoring finish.

Hermann Maier (26th in the race) maintains lead in overall standings 515-433 for Hans Knauss… Bode Miller now top U.S. skier, in 8th with 337. … Miller leads the GS standings 310-249 for Palander. … Austria leads the Nations Cup standings 5474-1705 for Italy and the men’s standings 3591-1053 for Italy. … U.S. sits fifth with 1417 and fourth men only at 810.