Herbst ends Austrian Hoodoo in Alta Badia.
Reinfried Herbst gave the Austrians the win they so badly wanted and with first run leader Manfred Pranger taking third, this was almost the perfect day for the Austrian Slalom team. Silvan Zurbriggen, hassled by the Italian Police for “relieving himself” in the trees on his last visit here three years ago, came from a start number of 17 to take second place, his best result in Slalom since placing second in the Sestriere Slalom in 2004.
With three Austrians taking the top three spots after the first run, you could have thought that this was going to be a walk in the park for the Austrians. Think again. Austria has never done well in the Italian mountains despite its close proximity to the Austrian Tirol. Twice in the four times that the Slalom has been held in Alte Badia, no Austrian has made it to the finish line, Raich’s third last season being the best result before this race. This was the best Austrian result here since 1997 when Christian Maier won the Giant Slalom.
First run course setter, Ante Kostelic had been vocal in claiming that he wanted to make the racers work and force a lot of the racers out and his goal looked like being achieved as Mario Matt set about chasing the time that Pranger had set. Pranger was smooth and tight where as Matt was ragged and made a schoolboy error coming into the first of two delay gates on the top section. When Mattias Hargin made the same mistake on the same gate, Kostelic’s prediction was ominous.
With four to go on the second run, Manfred Moelgg hoped to keep the lead. Moelgg lives nearby and there was plenty of support for him. Yet Silvan Zurbriggen is in inspired form at the moment and tore into the course. He knew that he had to ski fast as the Austrian juggernaut was following him down. Zurbriggen has made the choice to concentrate on the slalom and this has certainly benefitted him. Apart from a mistake at the top, after which he though that his race was over, Zurbriggen was tight, smooth and fast. With the number one showing in the finish all he could do now was wait and se what the rest could do.
Raich was the first out and while looking strong and technically sound, he extended his lead at the first split. Then disaster struck as his weight went back and he crashed out. One down two to go.
Then came World Cup leader Reini Herbst. Herbst, winner of the opening Slalom in Lienz six weeks ago has spent time training and racing on the Europa Cup series. This has paid dividends he felt and although he lost time to Zurbriggen, he had enough in the tank to capture the lead. While the Austrians celebrated a long overdue win in Alta Badia, would it be Herbst or Pranger?
In the end while Pranger did not quite attack the second run as much as he felt he could have, he was not disappointed with his run. It was tentative and not as technically sound as his first run and he put this down to the course being not so much suited to his style of skiing. Pranger refused to use this as an excuse later. This was very much a third place won rather than a victory lost he felt.
The slalom racers now take a three week break before the noise levels raise in Zagreb and then they come quick and fast with Adelboden, Wengen, Kitzbuehel, Schladming and Kranjska Gora all in January!
With no Grange or Kostelic racing, Herbst lead the calls for a speedy recovery for both after the race! Sadly the Christmas period will see Benni Raich convalesce after crashing out and injuring his back in the second run today. No Miller today after his ankle swelled up following the GS yesterday.
1. Reinfried Herbst (Aut) 53.57 / 55.74 1:49.31
2. Silvan Zurbriggen (Sui) 53.93 / 55.46 1:49.39
3. Manfred Pranger (Aut) 53.35 / 56.13 1:49.48
DNF 1 David Ryding GBR
