Germans thrilled with Neureuther win in Munich

Fifteen thousand mostly German ski race fans were well beyond happy. It was all good, this New years Day World Cup city event in the Bavarian capitol city of Munich, at night, with strobe light eye candy, plenty of hype and a carnival atmosphere. Mostly, though, it was their guy, Felix Neureuther who had worked his way through the opposition to make it to the finals  to challenge last season’s Austrian overall champion Marcel Hirscher.

The fans got loud, even a bit raucous as Neureuther and Hirscher stood at the top of the 200 meter ramp preparing for the final run of the eight required to win this pro-style event.

“It was amazing,” Neureuther said, “because they were crazy. It was loud and for me it was just a motivation to go really hard.”

Neureuther leaped from the unfamiliar style start to an immediate lead and gave no quarter to the Austrian. Although Hirscher got tossed by some of the deeply rutted gates, he clung to the course and even made up some of the initial edge he had granted the German. But he could not catch him. And the crowd overflowed with jubilation.

After the first round of the night, with 16 starters, it appeared the Swedes would have the advantage with all three Swedish competitors advancing to the second round. The Austrians had started four and only Hirscher made it through the first heat. Norway, Italy, the US and Switzerland were all watching from ramp side after the preliminary.

Swede Andre Myhrer was the lone to advance to the final four, but he skied out in the “small final” against Alexis Pinturault, the French winner of last season’s city event in Moscow, got third as a result.

The win bumped Hirscher’s lead in the Cup slalom standings over Myhrer to 40pts, thirty of them gained by lasting a round longer in Munich. Neureuther moved up to third, four points behind Myhrer.

Gepa photo

The SCOOP
by Hank McKee
Men’s World Cup City Event parallel slalom, Munich, Germany, Jan. 1, 2013
Equipment
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Neureuther, Nordica/Nordica/Marker
2 Hirscher, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic   
3 Pinturault, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
4 Myhrer, Nordica/Nordica/Marker

Men’s World Cup City Event parallel slalom, Munich, Germany, Jan. 1, 2013. … It is the third “city event” after Moscow last season and Munich in 2011. … It is the 17th parallel slalom conducted as a World Cup.

It is the third career World Cup win for Felix Neureuther, having previously won slaloms at Kitzbuehel (Jan. 14, 2010) and Garmisch (March 13, 2010). … It is his second podium in a city event having placed second in Moscow last season. … It is the first German Cup parallel win since Hilde Gerg won a November event at Mammoth in 1997.

It is the 35th career World Cup podium result for Marcel Hirscher. … his first in a parallel event. … It is his eighth podium of the season in eight completed races.

It is the ninth career Cup podium for Alexis Pinturault. … his second in a city event having won at Moscow last season (Feb. 21). … It is his second podium of the season after winning the Val d’Isere slalom.

Aksel Lund Svindal (ninth in race) maintains the lead of the World Cup overall standings 674-560 over Marcel Hirscher. … Ted Ligety (ninth in race) is third with 537pts. … Erik Guay (did not race) is top Canadian in 16th with 189pts. … Hirscher leads the slalom standings 240-200 over Andre Myhrer (fourth in race). … Neureuther is third with 196pts. … Ligety is top American in slalom in tenth place with 71pts.

City Event Munich (GER
FIS World Cup
Men’s City Event
Jan. 1, 2013