Swiss skiers triumph in giant slalom race
Marc Berthod has won the World Cup giant slalom race in the Swiss resort of Adelboden ahead of his compatriot Daniel Albrecht.
Saturday’s result confirms the return to form displayed by the Swiss men’s alpine team in the same resort a year ago. It is the first such Swiss success in nine years.
Berthod clinched best time in the second leg of the race in Adelboden distancing Austria’s Stephan Görgl as well as his two Swiss team-mates, Didier Cuche and Albrecht who were in the lead after the first leg.
It’s Berthod’s second Wold Cup race victory, following his win of the special slalom in Adelboden a year ago.
“It is always special to win here. You have the impression that the crowd are really pushing you. To win in front of my old friend Daniel is especially great,” Berthod said.
For his part, Albrecht who made it into the top three of a giant slalom race for the second time in his career, is now top in the discipline’s overall standings.
However, the Swiss were denied a top three sweep when Cuche slowed his second run at the end and finished the race in 12th place to the disappointment of 23,000 home fans.
Difficult
Difficult conditions during the first run caused dozens of racers to lose their footing – some more spectacularly than others.
Americans Ted Ligety, so far the most consistent skier in the discipline, and Bode Miller, winner of last weekend’s downhill in Bormio did not finish the first run.
A special slalom is scheduled in Adelboden on Sunday before the World Cup circuit moves to the nearby Swiss resort of Wengen for the classic Lauberhorn races next weekend.
The women competed in a giant slalom in the Czech Republic on Saturday which was won by Italy’s Denise Karbon – her fourth victory in a row. No Swiss skier qualified for the second leg of the race in Spindleruv Mlyn.
Ammann
In another development, Olympic winner Simon Ammann has come third in Saturday’s ski jumping event at the Austrian resort of Bischofshofen which is part of the prestigious Four Hills tournament.
He soared 139 metres in the second attempt to finish behind Finland’s Janne Ahonen and Thomas Morgenstern of Austria.
Switzerland’s Andreas Küttel who was third after the first attempt came ninth.
The fourth and final event of the tournament is scheduled to take place in Bischofshofen on Sunday.
swissinfo with agencies
Result World Cup giant slalom Adelboden:
1. Marc Berthod ( Swiss)2:27.56
2. Daniel Albrecht (Swiss) –0.56
3. Hannes Reichelt (Austria) –0.58
4. Christoph Gruber (Austria) –0.69
5. Manfred Mölgg (Italy) –0.70
…
12. Didier Cuche (Swiss)
13. Didier Défago (Swiss) and Alexander Ploner (Italy)
Switzerland’s Daniel Albrecht is top in the overall standings of the giant slalom discipline.
With three more races to go Albrecht is ahead of Austria’s Benjamin Raich and Kalle Palander of Finland.
Two other Swiss athletes, Marc Berthod and Didier Cuche, are in the top eight.
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