Hirscher chasing Ligety in the giant in Kranjska Gora

The last weekend of the men's Alpine Ski World Cup before the Aspen Finals will plan the Kranjska Gora technical tests. As usual it will start with a Giant.

Friday 3 March 2017 5 minutes reading time

Kranjska Gora is a municipality of Slovenia, located between the Julian Alps and the Karavanke on the border with Austria and Italy. It is a historical location with regard to the Alpine Ski World Cup: hosted races since 1968 and, except for a break between 1970 and 1978, remained constantly on the calendar with location that has changed over the years until to find its current arrangement (the last weekend before the final technical) from 2006-2007. On the difficult Podkoren they have played so far 41 Giants in the World Cup. The absolute master's Ted Ligety, who won 6 times and came third 2 times for 8 podiums. However, the US, partly because of the physical problems that have hit in recent seasons, is dry in the last three editions, and could be reached by Marcel Hirscher: the ruler of the World Cup is in fact at 7 top three (2 victories , 3/2 and 2 third places), which means that in case of the podium Saturday would equal its rival in this particular ranking. In addition to the two largest gigantism of recent seasons, the Giant of Kranjska Gora has had starring Benjamin Raich: on this track became known coming quarter 5 January 1999. Since then he has got 4 wins and 2 second places in this race. We should also mention Joel Gaspoz, 3 times first, and success of Carlo Janka of 5 March 2011, came to a week after surgery to heart immediately by the Swiss champion. Podkoren are different satisfactions obtained by Italian patrol. If the 2 victories of Alberto Tomba, dated December 21, 1990 and January 6, 1995 does not make the news, significant are the races of 4 January 1992 and January 5, 1999: in the first case recorded the resounding victory of Sergio Bergamelli, in its sole career (and only podium), arrived with the bib number 34 and with an appalling advantage (2 "22) Hans Pieren. In the second however he prevailed Patrick Holzer, his only success in Gigante and the first post-Tomb in this specialty. Massimiliano Blardone is rather blue with more podiums, well 4 although winless (1 second and 3 third places). They got the top three in the Giant of Kranjska Gora also Robert Erlacher, 2 times second, Matteo Belfrond and Manfred MÃ¶lgg, both 1 once a place of honor, Richard Pramotton, one third time, and the pair Alberto Schieppati-Alexander Ploner, together on the podium in second and third place in the test Bode Miller won by 28 February 2004. The Giant of Kranjska Gora will be held Saturday, March 4; The first race will start at 9:30 am, the second at 12:30.

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