In the first race at Wengen´s World Cup weekend Frenchman Jean Baptiste Grange stressed that he is in a top shape at the moment. Being 27th after a shortened downhill run he set the minimum time in slalom which couldn´t be undercut by anyone else. Neither Daniel Albrecht (SUI) nor Bode Miller (USA) who were clearly in front of him after the speed discipline got the French and finished on places two and three.
Kernen-S puts skiers to the test
Although the piste was shortened it remained an extremely demanding course for all the experts. Especially the Brueggli-S renamed in Kernen-S separated the wheat from the chaff. Only one skier could be brilliant in all the difficult parts: Didier Cuche scored the best time and so made himself a favorite for the downhill on January 13th.
Slalom experts not too far away
But already after the downhill it was clear that others should fight for the victory because some of the slalom experts were very good on their way on the downhill piste. So Rainer Schoenfelder crossed the finish line as seventh only 1,54 seconds behind Cuche. Daniel Albrecht, Ivica Kostelic, and Benjmain Raich kept their deficit within a limit as well. On places 27 and 30 Jean Baptiste Grange and Mario Matt made sure the best positions for the final - they could start the slalom run on a clean and untouched piste.
Grange shocks competitors
In slalom then it was Jean Baptiste Grange´s big hour. With a furious run he took Matt who had already finished nine tenths away - it became the clear minimum time. One after another the further athletes missed that benchmark although they had had a big margin before. Only Ted Ligety who convinced by a fast performance in slalom as well could make it to place five in the end.
SKI
Kernen-S puts skiers to the test
Although the piste was shortened it remained an extremely demanding course for all the experts. Especially the Brueggli-S renamed in Kernen-S separated the wheat from the chaff. Only one skier could be brilliant in all the difficult parts: Didier Cuche scored the best time and so made himself a favorite for the downhill on January 13th.
Slalom experts not too far away
But already after the downhill it was clear that others should fight for the victory because some of the slalom experts were very good on their way on the downhill piste. So Rainer Schoenfelder crossed the finish line as seventh only 1,54 seconds behind Cuche. Daniel Albrecht, Ivica Kostelic, and Benjmain Raich kept their deficit within a limit as well. On places 27 and 30 Jean Baptiste Grange and Mario Matt made sure the best positions for the final - they could start the slalom run on a clean and untouched piste.
Grange shocks competitors
In slalom then it was Jean Baptiste Grange´s big hour. With a furious run he took Matt who had already finished nine tenths away - it became the clear minimum time. One after another the further athletes missed that benchmark although they had had a big margin before. Only Ted Ligety who convinced by a fast performance in slalom as well could make it to place five in the end.
SKI
