Sunday, March 16, 2008

U.S. and Italy Break Austrian Stranglehold on Ski World Cup

The ANNOTICO Report

US skiers Lindsey (Kildow) Vonn took the women's overall and downhill titles, while Bode Miller sealed the men's overall crown, and  Ted Ligety also snatched the men's giant slalom globe trophy

Italy's Manfred Moelgg took Raich's slalom crown, Denise Karbon scooped a globe after an astonishing season in the women's giant slalom, winning five of the seven races despite a broken thumb.

Austria had to be satisfied with Marlies Schild retaining the slalom World Cup on Friday and Hannes Reichelt's triumph in the men's Super-G

U.S. and Italy Break Austrian Stranglehold

Reuters  

By Mark Meadows

Sat Mar 15, 2008

BORMIO, Italy (Reuters) - Last season Austrian women claimed all the World Cup titles and Benjamin Raich won the men's slalom but in 2008 they were left trailing by the resurgence of American and Italian skiing.

Lindsey Vonn took the women's overall and downhill titles while Bode Miller sealed the men's overall crown after holder Aksel Lund Svindal was injured in November.

It was the first time since 1983 that Americans were overall winners in the men's and women's events.

Ted Ligety also snatched the men's giant slalom globe trophy for the U.S. on Friday after winning the season's last two races.

Vonn, formerly known as Lindsey Kildow, had an ominous warning for her Austrian rivals after claiming her maiden title.

"I have always dreamed of winning a globe. Those things continue to drive me. It's not going to stop," the 23-year-old told reporters at the joint men's and women's grand finals in Italy.

Last season's overall champion Nicole Hosp finished second after the final giant slalom on Saturday but in reality the Austrian barely challenged Vonn, who won the main title by a huge 220 points.

Vonn's best friend Maria Riesch of Germany won the Super-G title on Thursday and was the American's main threat, only dropping down to third overall after Vonn's win was complete.

SOME COMFORT

Marlies Schild gave Austria some comfort by retaining the slalom World Cup on Friday and Hannes Reichelt's triumph in the men's Super-G gave the team a nice surprise, especially as Didier Cuche of Switzerland threw away the cup.

"It's maybe the biggest mistake of my career. I was really mad about my race," said Cuche after being too cautious in Thursday's Super-G and losing the title by a point.

Third overall, Cuche earned consolation with a second downhill title in a row but second-placed Raich has nothing to show for his season for the first time since 2004.

Italy's Manfred Moelgg took Raich's slalom crown by finishing joint sixth on Saturday, having only won one World Cup race in his career at Kranjska Gora in Slovenia last week.

Moelgg, fourth overall and third in the giant slalom, was helped in the slalom by Jean-Baptiste Grange of France falling over just before the line with the title almost in his grasp.

Denise Karbon joined compatriot Moelgg by scooping a globe after an astonishing season in the women's giant slalom, winning five of the seven races despite a broken thumb.

Austria's Elisabeth Goergl, who won Saturday's race to finish second behind Karbon, was unperturbed by her team's woes.

"I think it is good for the whole World Cup there are even more teams doing well. It puts a bit of spice in the whole circus. I don't think we are doing worse. The others are just doing a bit better," said Goergl.

http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSL1506114820080316?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

The ANNOTICO Reports Can be Viewed (With Archives*) on:

Blog: www.AnnoticoReport.com

Italia USA: www.ItaliaUSA.com * [Formerly Italy at St Louis]

Italia Mia: www.ItaliaMia.com *

Topix.net: www.topix.net/world/italy

Annotico Email: annotico@earthlink.net