A spectacular race in the Men’s Giant Slalom in Sölden: this morning the athletes gathered at the start gate on the Austrian glacier for a new day of competitive ski racing following yesterday’s women’s race won by Tina Maze.
While yesterday’s giant slalom was affected by fog, today’s was affected by snow: this morning the skiers found themselves facing a completely different landscape. Overnight, heavy snowfall transformed the slope; at 9:30 AM, despite heavy snow falling on the glacier, the FIS jury decided to start the first run of the giant slalom. The blizzard significantly hampered the runs of the early starters, who not only faced a course covered in fresh snow but also had to ski in less-than-ideal visibility. One of the first to pay the price was Italy’s Max Blardone, who went out at the first pitch change.
The first to set the pace was Ted Ligety, before France’s Fanara unseated the American from the top spot with an excellent performance, undoubtedly aided by clearing skies as the snowfall eased.
Among the Italians, the best was Moelgg with an excellent third place: a very strong run, finishing just 16 hundredths of a second behind second place (Ligety), puts him among the favorites for the second run.
It was a more subdued showing for the other Italians, while Marcel Hirscher qualified for the second run 1″36 behind Fanara, alongside a solid 16th place for Davide Simoncelli despite his serious injury this summer, 21st place for Florian Eisath at 1″98, and a good effort by Roberto Nani in 23rd place at 2″05.
Tune in at 12:30 PM on Rai Sport for live coverage of the second run of the Giant Slalom in Sölden—Go Azzurri, Go Moelgg!!!
No comments yet