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Frederic
Covili at the top
It’s for sure more than a wild dream that France’s
Fredric Covili achieved on Sunday by winning the demanding
giant slalom in Alta Badia, one of the most prestigious
competition in the technical event.
The surprising winner from Soelden, last October, was
lucky to beat by 2/100 of a second the reigning World
Champion Michael von Grünigen, crowned her in 1998.
It was also a great day for Sami Uotilsa, who scored
the first World Cup podium for the men’s Finish
team only a week after his teammate Tanja Pouitianen
came in 2nd in slalom at Sestriere.
America’s Bode Miller, the great dominator from
Val d’Isère and Madonna di Campiglio, was
on his way to celebrate an impressive hat-trick after
clocking the fastest time in the first run when he crashed
at the beginning of the second run. Bode lost a great
opportunity to reinforce his chances to play a major
role in the fight for the Overall World Cup title as
Austria’s Stephan Eberharter, the top-favorite
for this winter’s competition, only came in 9th
thanks for a excellent second run.
Stephan has now more than 500 points in the General
standings and he is far ahead of Bode Miller.
No
Austrian on the podium
Yet for the first time since many years, no Austrian
reached the podium in giant slalom. Christophe Gruber,
a far 30th in the morning, was 4th at the end of the
day thanks to an impressive second run in which he set
the best time.
Italy’s Massimiliano Blardone on the opposite went
back from 3rd to 8th place.
Croatia’s Ivica Kostelic was another hero of the
day: despite his high number 59, he conquered a superb
13th place, his best result ever in that speciality.
Far behind came the Norwegian stars Kjetil Aamodt and
Lasse Kjus, tired after their strong performances in
the previous downhills at Val Gardena. Kjetil was 22nd
and Lasse 23rd.
Covili
aims for more
Two years after his teammate Joel Chenal, Covili brought
another great success to the French team here in Alta
Badia. The 16-year-old champion from Les Menuires is
very consistent since the season start – and very
proud about it.
“Two victories and a 2nd place in three races,
I have nothing to complain so far, I reached much more
than I hoped at the season start” he said afterwards.
“I believe that my bronze medal won at St Anton
last February is the main reason behind my great confidence
which helped me so much right now” he added.
“I feel very strong and relaxed and this allows
me to be very aggressive on course. To win this difficult
race in front of the best GS specialist in the field
is wonderful. I’m living a great moment right now
and I hope it will continue for a while. I think that
the best for me now is not to raise any question, but
just enjoy the moment. I’ll give my best at Kranjska
Gora to successfully defend ma red bib there. I like
the runs there, but my next goal is to ski well again
next month in Adelboden. This is the greatest of all
GS races”. No French skier could clinch the GS
World Cup standings since Patrick Russel in 1971. Covili
has the talent to fill up this long gap!
Von
Grünigen is back
Von Grünigen, the triple GS World Cup Champion,
remains a top-contender too with five races left on
the program this season. In Alta Badia, the Swiss proved
his determination and his strong form despite his painful
shoulder which he injured tent days ago during a training
run. “I could not push so hard on my poles at the
beginning but I feel better now than last week at Val
d’Isère” he said. “ From now on
things should improve and I enjoy fighting against such
an excellent skier as Frederic or Bode Miller. Eberharter
too is skiing well in this event. This season should
be quite exciting. In the first minutes after the race,
I was a little upset to miss my 20th World Cup win by
2/100 only. But I did my best! There are so many good
specialists in the field now”.
Exciting
races at Kranjska Gora
At Kranjska Gora, where two more giant slaloms and a
slalom are planned from Thursday to Saturday, more interesting
racing is expected from the leaders on the treacherous
“Podkoren” courses, certainly surrounded by
thousands of fans as in the past. Among them, a former
winner, Christian Mayer, who lives only twenty minutes
away from the slope, on the other side of the mountain.
Yet the skier to beat should again be Bode Miller.
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