Alpine World Cup Finals: Raich wins final GS race and discipline title
Alpine World Cup Finals: Raich wins final GS race and discipline title
ARE, Sweden – Benjamin Raich of Austria crushed the second run of the giant slalom at World Cup Finals on Friday, clinching the title in that discipline.
Daron Rahlves was sixth, racing in what he said is almost certainly his final scored World Cup race. He was not sentimental about it.
“I don’t really get caught up in that kind of thing,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about this being the last year since the beginning of the season, committing to that decision. I have no regrets.”
Rahlves’ young teammate Ted Ligety was seventh. Bode Miller was fast at early intervals on the first run, but failed to finish, and Erik Schlopy leaned in and slid out of the first run.
Raich won last year’s GS title too, stealing that globe from the previous year’s titlist, Bode Miller. On Friday, Miller had trouble seeing dimension in the snow, and crashed through a panel.
“I guess I just misjudged that turn. I thought I had plenty of room to get on it,” Miller said. “I started the turn right where I thought I needed to, but by the time I initiated the turn I knew I was going to go right through the middle of that gate. I released a little bit and made sure I was going to get my feet around it, and at that point it’s just luck whether the panel comes off or you snap the pole off or rip the gate out.”
Kalle Palander of Finland, who was in contention for the title, pulled out of the race with a knee injury. He also has opted out of the slalom, in which he was the only man who could prevent Italy’s Giorgio Rocca from getting the globe in that discipline. That means all World Cup titles are settled.
“Benni is much faster than all other and for sure he is the best,” said Fredrik Nyberg of Sweden, who thrilled the home crowd with his Friday podium. “It’s my end to a World Cup standings and its a great feeling to be making that at the end of my career.”
Max Blardone also praised Raich, who had beaten him by a whopping 1.01 seconds on the second run.
“I’m happy to have been able to challenge Benni right up until the end,” said Blardone. “Looking back this season, I had good moments but I also blew it, blew so many points with bad races, so it’s not today I lost the Cup. I’m happy to put pressure on him today but I lost the Cup earlier this season.”
Rahlves on the way out
Rahlves has been careful to “never say never,” but he insists that he won’t be back on the World Cup next year, and that he probably won’t come back again.
He wants to surf, race motocross bikes, and start a family. He talked about starting up his own race in Sugar Bowl called the “Rahlves Invitational,” and he said he wants to go to Alaska and possibly appear in ski films for Matchstick Productions.
“I’ve never really thought too much about the style aspect of sports, and I want to get more involved in that,” he said. “Wherever I travel, racing or whatever, I’m looking at the mountains and thinking, ‘OK, that would be a cool line to ski.’ Or I’m looking at photos and picking out lines.”
Men’s giant slalom
Are, Sweden
March 17, 2006
1. Benjamin Raich, AUT 2:22.50
2. Massimillano Blardone, ITA 2:23.44
3. Fredrik Nyberg, SWE 1:23.52
4. Francois Bourque, CAN 2:23.79
5. Hannes Reichelt, AUT 2:24.12
6. Daron Rahlves, USA 2:24.25
7. Ted Ligety, USA 2:24.68
8. Peter Fill, ITA 2:24.87
8. Thomas Fanara, FRA 2:24.87
10. Alberto Schieppati, ITA 2:24.97
11. Joel Chenal, FRA 2:25.00
12. Thomas Grandi, CAN 2:25.08
13. Rainer Schoenfelder, AUT 2:25.42
14. Didier Defago, SUI 2:25.59
15. Stephan Goergl, AUT 2:25.62
16. Raphael Burton, FRA 2:25.67
17. Marco Buechel, LIE 2:25.94
18. Manfred Moelgg, ITA 2:26.01
19. Giorgio Rocca, ITA 2:26.26
20. Mario Matt, AUT 2:26.94
Other North Americans:
DNF 1st: Bode Miller, Eric Schlopy, USA; Stefan Guay, CAN.
THE SCOOP
By Hank McKee
Equipment
Men’s GS, Are, March 17, 2006
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1. Raich, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
2. Blardone, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
3. Nyberg, Fischer/Nordica/Fischer
4. Bourque, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
5. Reichelt, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
6. Rahlves, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
7. Ligety, Volkl/Nordica/Marker
8. Fill, Dynastar/Lange/Look
8. Fanara, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
10. Schieppati, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
Men’s giant slalom. Are, Sweden, March 17, 2006 … It is the 36th event of the men’s 34 race, four combined World Cup schedule with one event (Chamonix DH Feb 4) canceled. … It is the eighth and final giant slalom. … One slalom remains on the men’s schedule.
It is the 23rd career World Cup win for Benjamin Raich, matching Michael von Gruenigen for 11th all-time among men. … It is his ninth career GS win. … It is his seventh win of the season (not including two Olympic gold medals) … His third World Cup GS win of the season (plus an Olympic gold).
It is the eighth career podium for Massimiliano Blardone, all in GS. … It is his fourth podium of the season. … He was second three times, twice to Raich.
It is the 24th career World Cup podium for Fredrik Nyberg. … His 20th in GS. … His first win came 16 seasons ago. … He had three podiums this season, all in GS, and finished among the top seven in eight of nine GS’s (including Olympics). …The top three finishers also finished in the same order in the World Cup GS standings. … They also started the race consecutively and in order.
It is the third career top four for Francois Bourque and second this season (not including a fourth-place result in the Olympic GS). … It is the 55th time Daron Rahlves has finished in the top six of a World Cup race. … The sixth time in GS. … It is his 11th top six of the season. … third in GS. … He has been in the top seven of all three races held at World Cup Finals to date. … It is the 10th top-seven result of the season for Ted Ligety. … His second top seven in GS. … He has finished in the top 10 in 14 races this season (including an Olympic gold medal). … It is the 13th top-12 result of the season (including two Olympic placings) for Thomas Grandi.
Benjamin Raich has won the overall World Cup title. … With one race remaining he leads 1,410-970 over Aksel Svindal (first-run DNF in race). … Bode Miller (first-run DNF) is third at 928 points and Daron Rahlves fourth at 903 points. … Raich wins the GS title 481-442 over Blardone with Nyberg third at 414. … It is the second consecutive GS title for Raich. … Miller is the top American in the final GS standings in ninth with 198 points. … Winning margin is .94 of a second. … Top three racers are within the same second. … Top six racers within two seconds.
About the Author: Pete Rugh
