Ligety takes final GS and fourth GS crown

Not only is Ted Ligety lightening fast in GS, he is also smart. He showed that in the World Cup Finals at Lenzerheide, Switzerland today (March 16) limiting his second run risk level and still putting up the next to fastest run to bring home his 17th career World Cup victory and put the icing on his fourth GS title.

It was his sixth win in the eight GS Cup races held this season (seven of nine including World Championships).

The weather finally cleared at Lenzerheide where the first four races of World Cup Finals had to be canceled. It had also gotten cold overnight and the course caught more than a few by surprise, including Ligety who said the snow was much more aggressive than had been expected.

“The snow was very wintery… probably the most aggressive snow we’ve had all year so that was definitely somewhat of an adjustment.” He radioed to his tech personnel from the finish of the first run so his equipment could be tweeked for the second heat.

But Ligety adapted quickly to the first run surprise and threw down the challenge, putting in a brilliant run carving his way through a rugged, steep upper portion then extending his lead at every interval.

Hirscher, fourth after the first run, was blistering in the second. He had some pressure released when Aksel Lund Svindal failed to finish the first run making it mathematically impossible to catch Hirscher for the overall World Cup title. Ligety kept pace with the overall champion, dropping about half of his first run lead, but had plenty in reserve for the victory. He had locked down the GS title last week in Kranjska Gora.

With his finish Hirscher secured both his second straight overall title, but also finished second in the GS standings. Alexis Pinturault, the first run second place finisher, wound up in third, both in the race and in the GS standings.

Ligety will hold third on the final overall standings behind Hirscher and Svindal regardless of the results of the final race of the season, a slalom tomorrow.

“This year has been crazy,” said Ligety, “I can’t imagine anything better, to have six victories in the World Cup and then winning World Championships along with that its a truly awesome season…I’m running on fumes right now.”

Gepa photo

The SCOOP
by Hank McKee

Men’s World Cup giant slalom, Finals, Lenzerheide, Switzerland, March 16, 2013.
Equipment
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Ligety, Head/Head/Head
2 Hirscher, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
3 Pinturault, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
4 Schoerghofer, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
5 Fanara, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer
6 Noesig, Fischer/Lange/Fischer
7 Blardone, Dynastar/Lange/Look
8 Missillier, Dynastar/Lange/Look
9 Sandell, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
10 Moelgg, Fischer/Fischer/Fischer

Men’s World Cup giant slalom, Finals, Lenzerheide, Switzerland, March 16, 2013. … It is the 33rd of 36 scheduled races with two cancellations. … one race (slalom) remains. … It is the eighth of eight scheduled giant slaloms. … It is the 32nd Cup race hosted by Lenzerheide. … the fifth GS.

It is the 17th career World Cup win for Ted Ligety, all in GS. … He is third all time among men in GS  wins behind Ingemar Stenmark (46) and Michael VonGruenigen (23). … He moves out of a tie for fourth all time both genders with Annemarie Moser-Proell. … Vreni Schneider (21) still leads him. … It is the 259th US Cup win. … the 57th in GS. … He is one of six US men to have won a World Cup GS. … It is his ninth win of the season including three gold medals at World Championships. …

It is the 44th career World Cup podium result for Marcel Hirscher in 82 completed races. … his 18th in GS. … It is his 19th podium of the season (including World Championships) in 20 completed races. … His eighth GS podium of the season in nine races (including Worlds).

It is the 14th career World Cup podium for Alexis Pinturault. … his sixth in GS. … It is his seventh podium of the season and third in GS.

Ligety wins the World Cup GS standings 720-575 over Hirscher. … Pinturault is third with 326pts. … It is the fourth GS crown for Ligety, matching Michael VinGruenigen and Alberto Tomba for second all time among men behind Ingemar Stenmark’s seven GS titles. … Vreni Schneider with five GS titles is the only woman with more than three. … Tim Jitloff finished the season ranked 29th in GS with 52pts, Jean-Philippe Roy was 40th with 14pts, Dustin Cook 44th with nine pts, Robby Kelley 45th with eight pts and Tommy Ford 49th with five pts.

Hirscher wins the World Cup Overall and currently leads Aksel Lund Svindal (DNF in race) 1455-1226 with one slalom remaining. … Ligety is third with 1022 and cannot be overtaken. … It is Hirscher’s second consecutive overall title. … Eric Guay leads the Canadians in 18th wth 378pts. … Austria leads the men’s Nations Cup 5921-3915 over Italy… France is third with 2013pts. … The US is sixth overall with 1648pts and Canada ninth with 896pts.

Lenzerheide (SUI)
FIS World Cup
Men’s Giant Slalom
March 16, 2013