Wengen: Raich leads Vogl, Ligety in first run of slalom

By Published On: January 15th, 2006Comments Off on Wengen: Raich leads Vogl, Ligety in first run of slalom

Wengen: Raich leads Vogl, Ligety in first run of slalom{mosimage}WENGEN, Switzerland – World Cup overall points leader Benjamin Raich of Austria targeted his second win of the 76th Lauberhorn World Cup weekend by winning the first run of the men’s slalom Sunday.

Raich, who won Friday’s super combined after American Bode Miller straddled a gate, turned in a first run of 50.46 seconds Sunday. Germany’s Alois Vogl was second, 0.15 back, and American Ted Ligety third, just 0.19 back of the leader.

World Cup slalom points leader Giorgio Rocca of Italy, seeking his fifth slalom win in the season’s fifth slalom, was fourth, within striking distance at 0.30 back. Rocca entered the race with 400 slalom points, with Ligety second in the overall chase with 240 points.

Rounding out the top 10: Finland’s Kalle Palander, France’s Jean-Pierre Vidal, Japan’s Kentaro Minagawa, Slovenia’s Bernard Vajdic, Austria’s Reinfried Herbst and Sweden’s Andre Myhrer.

Miller made a phenomenal recovery to stay on course, but was 20th in the first run. American Tom Rothrock started 41st and turned in a solid run, placing 17th in the first run, while Chip Knight was 34th, Jimmy Cochran 35th and Erik Schlopy 46th.

Eighty competitors were in the field for the first-run slalom, set by American coach Greg Needell. Second run was set for 12:30 Wengen time.

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About the Author: Pete Rugh