Preview: 4th Men’s World Cup GS, Alta Badia
It is clear, it is cold and there is a buzz around the town as we draw nearer to the 4th World Cup GS of the season. Ligety has won two of the races so far and goes 5, Marcel Hirscher who won the first race in Beaver Creek goes 2 but there are plenty of other racers in the mix who can put down a couple of runs to challenge these two….even single racer down as far as Miller starting in 17 could post a time that will give them a springboard to attack on the second run. Giant Slalom really is that exciting in terms of the level of competition.
So what about this slope, why is this hill so special and considered one of the classics? Located just over the hill from Val Gardena, Alta Badia is a quiet affair with a number of small villages making up the region. It makes up part of the famed Sellaronda ski area. The slope is steep, dark in places and when you come round the corner out of the trees the pitch is undulating and the first chance to relax is when you are through the finish. The racers will be breathing hard in the finish through sheer hard work. Today it is cold as well making the air that much harder to gather!
Conditions are just about perfect. There has been new snow, about 30cm in recent days and this is on top of a hard base. The snow on the trees makes it perfect for the picture postcards. 73 racers go to the start house for run one all chasing one of the 30 spots for the second run. With a slalom slated for tomorrow JB Grange (32) is using his right as a racer who scored over 500 points in the last year to grab a spot in the 31 – 35 start area along with Beat Feuz (31), Christof Innerhofer (33) and Dani Albrecht (34) who is continuing his recovery. Further down the start list other more recognised names, though not necessarily from Giant Slalom you will see Didier Defago at 38, Mathieu Faivre (has raced at the GB Champs a few times) at 45; Andre Myhrer (more recognised as a slalom racer) at 47; rising Canadian Downhiller Robbie Dixon at 48; Bernhard Graf (a rising new star for the Austrians and current Europa Cup Overall Champion) at 50 and Jon Olsson at 51.
So of those starting in the top thirty there are a number looking to reverse their drop down the rankings: Benni Raich starts at 16; Simoncelli and Blardone who have both started in the top 7 in the past go 18 and 19 – they are the first two Italians to start with Moelgg in 24 and Alex Ploner in 30.
It will be tough but this is the world cup!
Run one starts at 10.30 and has been set by Kostelic’s father, son goes 8. Run 2 will begin at 13.30 local time (12.30 in the UK).
So who will win? Ligety is the man to beat and knows how to win here having won last year. Hirscher has the American in his sights but even these two will be casting an eye on the time the young Frenchman Alexis Pinturault can post. It would not be a shock to see the Frenchman on the top step of the podium, he goes 9. Add Jansrud, Richard, Svindal and Schoerghofer to the mix and this is where the fight will be. For an outside bet for a podium spot… Fritz Dopfer!
