Cristian Deville has bounced around the top of slalom finish orders all season. At Kitzbuehel, Jan. 22, the 31 year old finally hopped to the top step of the podium, with his first career Cup win. He got it in wet, miserable conditions while controversy swirled around the storied Ganslern slalom hill. He joins Piero Gros and Alberto Tomba as the only Italians to win the Kitzbuehel slalom.

Austrian Mario Matt posted the second fastest slalom time missing a perfect chance to repeat his first Cup win at Kitzbuehel 12 years ago through several errors on a ravaged course. Ivica Kostelic nearly flew off course,  then dragged a hand to stay upright before finishing third and cementing the combined win.

Overall tour leader Marcel Hirscher was the focal point of the controversy. Television analysis of earlier slaloms this season show, according Croatian coaches and others, that Hirscher got away with straddles in both the Zagreb and Adelboden slaloms. At Wengen he was DQ'd for a straddle he said he did not notice. At Kitzbuehel television replay was used extensively on the very first gate of the first run where it appeared he may, or may not, have straddled. He was given the benefit of the doubt only to straddle on the second run, again apparently without his knowledge.

Weather was a huge factor. A notice from the organizing committee prior to the race read: “Due to heavy precipitation and warm temperatures the superstructure at the finishing line has collapsed. A provisional replacement has been constructed for today's Slalom.”

Those that braved the provisional stands were treated to some spectacular viewing as racer recoveries became common. The heavily watered course - at least four fire hoses were used - took on even more water as rain soaked the first run and large ruts formed in the softened snow.

Where those attacking were flailing, Deville stayed smooth and in control, riding the ruts and keeping his skis in contact with the pasty snow. The strategy paid off big time and he won by an enormous .78 of a second margin.

"The second run was incredibly good," he beamed. "I took many risks, but made no mistakes."

Matt said a mistake in the middle of the run cost him the win, but vowed to Austria reporters that he would "attack full" at the Tuesday night slalom at Schladming. "If you want to win, you must also risk failure."

The North Americans were led by Brad Spence and Nolan Kasper in a tie for 14th.

"The snow was tough to work with," said Kasper. "Guys skied hard. It was fun to watch and fun to be a part of." 

Spence said, "There were a lot of tough gates and big holes. But I'll take 14th, it's the best result I've had this year and I think it's something I can build on."

Mike Janyk finished 18th and Jimmy Cochran had a fantastic day in
finishing 18th from the 41st start. Colby Granstrom got his first World
Cup points in 24th.

"It's a classic. I wouldn't want it any other way than to score here for my first time," Granstrom said.

A huge start list of 94 was pared by 24 DNF's and three DQ's in the first run. Because the race was part of the only remaining traditional combined, skiers finishing beyond the top 30 with downhill times from Saturday, also started the second run.

The Combined

The combined, the only traditional combined remaining on the World Cups schedule, went to Kostelic by a wide margin over Beat Feuz (4.55 seconds). Silvan Zurbriggen was third, Adrien Theaux and Ted Ligety fifth.

It was the third straight season he has won the Hahnenkamm trophy.

Kostelic said he had been motivated by the straddle controversy. "Sport means something," he told FISalpine.com. "It has basic values. ... When these basic values are walked over, I, personally, don't forget these. It's a pretty unclean picture."

Gepa photos

The SCOOP

by Hank McKee

Men's World Cup Slalom, Kitzbuehel, Austria Jan. 22, 2012
Equipment
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Deville, Volkl/Fischer/Marker
2 Matt, Blizzard/Tecnica/Marker
3 Kostelic, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
4 Missillier, Dynastar/Lange/Look
5 Byggmark, Voelkl/Tecnica/Marker
6 Myhrer, Nordica/Nordica/
7 Razzoli, Nordica/Nordica/Marker
8 Hoerl, Fischer/Lange/Tyrolia
9 Dopfer, Nordica/Nordica/
10 Raich, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

Men's World Cup Combined, Kitzbuehel, Austria Jan. 22-23, 2012
Equipment
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Kostelic, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
2 Feuz, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
3 Zurbriggen, Rossignol/Lange/Rossignol
4 Theaux, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
5 Ligety, Head/Head/Head
6 Baumann, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
7 Jansrud, Head/Head/Head
8 Innerhofer, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
9 Zrncic-Dim, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
10 Svindal, Head/Head/Head

Men's World Cup Slalom and traditional Combined, Kitzbuehel, Austria, Jan. 22, 2012. ... It is the final events of the 72nd Hahnenkamm. ... It is the 21st and 22nd events of the men's 45 race 2012 World Cup schedule. ... the seventh of 11 slaloms and second of four combineds on the schedule. ... It is the 145th World Cup event held - at least in part - at Kitzbuehel. ... the 46th Cup slalom and 35th combined held - at least in part - at the site.

Slalom
It is the first career World Cup win for Cristian Deville and his third Cup podium all scored this season and all in slalom. ... He was second at Beaver Creek Dec. 8 and third at Flachau Dec. 21. ... He also led after one run at Adelboden.

It is the 34th career Cup podium placing for Mario Matt. ... 32nd in slalom. ... It is his sixth Cup podium at Kitzbuehel and the fourth time he has finished second in the Kitzbuehel slalom. ... His first Cup win was at Kitzbuehel Jan. 23, 2000. ... It is his first podium of the season though he was fourth at Adelboden and Wengen in slalom.

It is the 50th career Cup podium for Ivica Kostelic (before the combined win is added) and his seventh of the season. ... It is his eighth career podium at Kitzbuehel and third in slalom. ... He has not won the Kitzbuehel slalom but has won the super G and two combineds prior to this season.

North Americans: Brad Spence matches his fifth best career score. ... It is the third time he has placed 14th or better in a slalom at Kitzbuehel. ... It is his best result of the season, one better than his placing at Beaver Creek Dec. 7. ... It is the seventh best career result for Nolan Kasper and his second best at Kitzbuehel having been 12th last season. ... It is his third best result of the season after a fourth at Beaver Creek and ninth at Adelboden, all in slalom. ... It is the 40th best career result for Mike Janyk. ... and his worst of six scoring finishes at Kitzbuehel. ... It is his third best of five scoring finishes this season. ... It is the 17th best career Cup result for Jimmy Cochran. ... and matches his career best at Kitzbuehel from 2007. ... It is his second score of the season. ... It is the first career Cup scoring result for Colby Granstrom.

Combined
It is the 23rd career World Cup win for Ivica Kostelic and seventh in combined. ... It is the third straight season he was won the Hahnenkamm trophy. ... He has won six of the last seven Cup combineds.

It is the ninth career World Cup podium placing for Beat Feuz and second in combined both coming this season. ... He was also second at Wengen.

It is the 13th career World Cup podium for Silvan Zurbriggen and his eighth in combined. ... It is his first podium of the season.

North Americans: Ted Ligety is one placing off his career best Cup combined result. ... It is the fourth time he has finished fifth in a Cup combined and the second time at Kitzbuehel, the previous in 2008.

Standings: Kostelic takes the lead of the World Cup overall standings 855-725 over Marcel Hirscher (DSQ 2nd). ... Feuz is third with 665pts. ... Ligety is fourth with 538pts and Miller (DNF 1st) sixth with 450. ... Erik Guay (did not race) is top Canadian in 25th with 196pts. ... Kostelic leads the slalom standings 545-370 over Deville. ... Hirscher is third with 360pts. ... Kasper is the top American in 16th with 108pts and Janyk top Canadian in 20th with 91pts. ... Kostelic leads the combined standings 200-160 for Feuz. ... Ligety is third with 85pts and Miller eighth with 60pts.