Jansrud claims hometown win in second Kvitfjell downhill

By Published On: February 25th, 2017Comments Off on Jansrud claims hometown win in second Kvitfjell downhill

In contrast to Friday’s sunshine, clouds and flat light were the name of the game on Saturday for the second men’s downhill in Kvitfjell, Norway. Hometown hero Kjetil Jansrud gave the Norwegian crowd what they were all hoping for as he took the win with a time of 1:47.63, a slim 0.08 seconds ahead of Italy’s Peter Fill in second. Reigning Downhill World Champion, Switzerland’s Beat Feuz, rounded out the podium in third, 0.14 seconds shy of the win.

Fortunately for the 58 men on the start list, despite the high cloud cover and flat light, there was no need to lower the start like on Friday and racing got off without a hitch from the normal start at noon CET. Wearing the red leader’s bib and kicking out of the gate fifth, it was clear that Jansrud was eager to improve on his third-place result from the day before as the Attacking Viking took to the course with aggression and composure, steadily building his lead at each interval until crossing the line well into the lead. Two racers later, Fill took to the course and thanks to a strong bottom section almost stole the victory, sliding into second place, only 0.08 seconds back. Feuz, on the other hand, was leading at the upper splits before his advantage slipped away approaching the finish and the big Swiss had to settle for third.

Jansrud grew up just north of Kvitfjell and now sits 33 points clear of Fill in the downhill standings with only World Cup finals in Aspen, Colo. left on the schedule. Although he is confident in his chances to walk away with the crystal globe, Jansrud knows he must bring his A-game to Aspen if he is going to end the downhill season a happy man.

KVITFJELL,NORWAY,25.FEB.17 - ALPINE SKIING - FIS World Cup, downhill, men. Image shows the rejoicing of Peter Fill (ITA), Kjetil Jansrud (NOR) and Beat Feuz (SUI). Photo: GEPA pictures/ Thomas Bachun

GEPA pictures/ Thomas Bachun

“I know this hill very well,” Jansrud explained. “It’s not just home because it’s in Norway. It’s home because I grew up here, so it’s a big thing and I think the last time (a Norwegian) won on a Saturday here was Lasse (Kjus) twenty years ago, so this is a big Norwegian day. It’s amazing and probably one of my biggest wins. I even won my first World Cup race here, so there are a lot of good memories in Kvitfjell. Magnificent day and also grabbing a bigger lead in the red jersey, thirty points means that if Fill wins in Aspen and I’m third then it’s all gone, so it means it’s going to be exciting.”

Fill also understands just how close the downhill standings are and after being visibly upset with his 16th-place finish on Friday was happy to make his way back to the podium on day two in Kvitfjell. If all goes according to plan for the Italian in Aspen, Fill is more than capable of defending his downhill title from last season.

“Yesterday I made a big mistake and lost the speed on the top and then it was difficult to go fast, but today was a good run and all together everything worked good and I’m really happy with my second place,” Fill said. “Now I am close to Jansrud for the big fight for the globe in Aspen. I have only one goal: to beat him there, so let us see what’s going to happen. I know what I need to do, full attack and when I have luck, maybe I can re-win the globe.”

Feuz has had a a stellar last month on the World Cup and is looking forward to some well-deserved rest once the season wraps up in Aspen.

“We started from the very top today, this is definitively an advantage for me; I feel better on the whole track,” Feuz said. “Unfortunately, I was not very good in the lower part and made a mistake in the last section, but in general, it was a very good run. It has been a great season for me, especially the World Champion title in front of my home crowd was amazing. I had some struggles early season in the World Cup, but then with the podium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and now also in Kvitfjell, I’m satisfied with my season.”

Travis Ganong led the Americans once again with a 17th place finish, followed closely by Bryce Bennett in 19th. Andrew Weibrecht was the only other American finisher in 41st. Jared Golberg suffered a big crash seconds into his run but was able to ski off under his own power. Canada’s Manuel Osborne-Paradis and Erik Guay also continued their fast skiing in fourth and sixth, respectively.

Young Norwegian racer Alexander Sannes Thorsen suffered a crash on the upper section of the course and had to be airlifted off of the hill. Thorsen was transported to Ullevaal University Hospital in Olso and it has been determined that the 21-year-old Norwegian has suffered a spinal fracture that may require surgery, according to Norwegian team doctor Marc Strauss.

The men now race super-G in Kvitfjell on Sunday, Feb. 26.

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 Top 10

  1. Kjetil Jansrud (NOR) – Head/Head/Head
  2. Peter Fill (ITA) – Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
  3. Beat Feuz (SUI) – Head/Head/Head
  4. Manuel Osborne-Paradis (CAN) – Head/Head/Head
  5. Carlo Janka (SUI) – Rossignol/Rossignol/Look
  6. Erik Guay (CAN) – Head/Head/Head
  7. Bostjan Kline (SLO) – Stoeckli/Head/Atomic
  8. Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR) – Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
  9. Dominik Paris (ITA) – Nordica/Nordica/Marker
  10. Vincent Kreichmayr (AUT) – Fischer/Fischer/Fischer

Official Results

Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Total Time Diff. FIS Points WC Points
 1  5  421483 JANSRUD Kjetil 1985 NOR  1:47.63  0.00  100.00
 2  7  292455 FILL Peter 1982 ITA  1:47.71  +0.08  0.93  80.00
 3  13  511383 FEUZ Beat 1987 SUI  1:47.77  +0.14  1.63  60.00
 4  10  102899 OSBORNE-PARADIS Manuel 1984 CAN  1:47.89  +0.26  3.02  50.00
 5  18  511313 JANKA Carlo 1986 SUI  1:47.91  +0.28  3.25  45.00
 6  9  102263 GUAY Erik 1981 CAN  1:47.95  +0.32  3.72  40.00
 7  11  561216 KLINE Bostjan 1991 SLO  1:48.19  +0.56  6.50  36.00
 8  12  422139 KILDE Aleksander Aamodt 1992 NOR  1:48.26  +0.63  7.32  32.00
 9  15  291459 PARIS Dominik 1989 ITA  1:48.35  +0.72  8.36  29.00
 10  4  53980 KRIECHMAYR Vincent 1991 AUT  1:48.37  +0.74  8.59  26.00
 11  25  202535 DRESSEN Thomas 1993 GER  1:48.45  +0.82  9.52  24.00
 11  17  50742 REICHELT Hannes 1980 AUT  1:48.45  +0.82  9.52  24.00
 13  20  200379 SANDER Andreas 1989 GER  1:48.46  +0.83  9.64  20.00
 14  34  202059 FERSTL Josef 1988 GER  1:48.57  +0.94  10.92  18.00
 15  24  511513 CAVIEZEL Mauro 1988 SUI  1:48.61  +0.98  11.38  16.00
 16  19  53902 MAYER Matthias 1990 AUT  1:48.63  +1.00  11.61  15.00
 17  1  530874 GANONG Travis 1988 USA  1:48.72  +1.09  12.66  14.00
 18  51  292514 HEEL Werner 1982 ITA  1:48.73  +1.10  12.78  13.00
 19  29  6530104 BENNETT Bryce 1992 USA  1:48.83  +1.20  13.94  12.00
 20  2  51215 BAUMANN Romed 1986 AUT  1:48.94  +1.31  15.21  11.00
 21  48  422120 SAUGESTAD Stian 1992 NOR  1:48.97  +1.34  15.56  10.00
 22  3  192746 THEAUX Adrien 1984 FRA  1:49.06  +1.43  16.61  9.00
 23  45  561255 CATER Martin 1992 SLO  1:49.08  +1.45  16.84  8.00
 23  16  192932 FAYED Guillermo 1985 FRA  1:49.08  +1.45  16.84  8.00
 25  39  54009 WALDER Christian 1991 AUT  1:49.25  +1.62  18.81  6.00
 26  30  194167 MUZATON Maxence 1990 FRA  1:49.27  +1.64  19.05  5.00
 27  8  191740 CLAREY Johan 1981 FRA  1:49.29  +1.66  19.28  4.00
 28  27  194298 GIEZENDANNER Blaise 1991 FRA  1:49.33  +1.70  19.74  3.00
 29  53  501987 MONSEN Felix 1994 SWE  1:49.46  +1.83  21.25  2.00
 29  28  194190 ROGER Brice 1990 FRA  1:49.46  +1.83  21.25  2.00
 31  35  6290985 BUZZI Emanuele 1994 ITA  1:49.51  +1.88  21.83
 32  46  180570 ROMAR Andreas 1989 FIN  1:49.57  +1.94  22.53
 33  44  561067 PERKO Rok 1985 SLO  1:49.62  +1.99  23.11
 34  33  512039 ROULIN Gilles 1994 SUI  1:49.65  +2.02  23.46
 35  43  512042 KRYENBUEHL Urs 1994 SUI  1:49.67  +2.04  23.69
 35  23  50753 KROELL Klaus 1980 AUT  1:49.67  +2.04  23.69
 37  38  194368 RAFFORT Nicolas 1991 FRA  1:49.70  +2.07  24.04
 38  36  511981 WEBER Ralph 1993 SUI  1:49.71  +2.08  24.16
 39  42  512124 HINTERMANN Niels 1995 SUI  1:49.77  +2.14  24.85
 40  26  191964 POISSON David 1982 FRA  1:49.82  +2.19  25.43
 41  21  530939 WEIBRECHT Andrew 1986 USA  1:49.85  +2.22  25.78
 42  14  53817 FRANZ Max 1989 AUT  1:49.90  +2.27  26.36
 43  6  511139 KUENG Patrick 1984 SUI  1:49.97  +2.34  27.18
 44  41  561217 KOSI Klemen 1991 SLO  1:50.10  +2.47  28.69
 45  31  54005 STRIEDINGER Otmar 1991 AUT  1:50.19  +2.56  29.73
 46  50  6290540 DE VETTORI Matteo 1993 ITA  1:50.21  +2.58  29.96
 47  54  110324 VON APPEN Henrik 1994 CHI  1:50.51  +2.88  33.45
 48  47  102271 HUDEC Jan 1981 CZE  1:50.59  +2.96  34.38
 49  32  511847 MANI Nils 1992 SUI  1:50.79  +3.16  36.70
 50  49  103762 WERRY Tyler 1991 CAN  1:51.61  +3.98  46.22
 51  57  380341 ULLRICH Max 1994 CRO  1:53.09  +5.46  63.41
 52  40  103512 FRISCH Jeffrey 1984 CAN  1:53.38  +5.75  66.78
Did not start 1st run
 52  54209 KRENN Christoph 1994 AUT
Did not finish 1st run
 58  170159 VORRE Marcus 1998 DEN
 56  422483 THORSEN Alexander Sannes 1996 NOR
 55  6290845 BOSCA Guglielmo 1993 ITA
 37  53968 BERTHOLD Frederic 1991 AUT
 22  934643 GOLDBERG Jared 1991 USA

 

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About the Author: Sean Higgins

A Lake Tahoe native and University of Vermont graduate, Higgins was a member of the Catamounts' 2012 NCAA title winning squad and earned first team All-American honors in 2013. Prior to coming to Ski Racing Media, he coached U14s for the Squaw Valley Ski Team.