Alpine Skiingmen's world cup
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The seasonal opening gave surprises in the men's sector, with a giant from Soelden who saw two protagonists the opposite.
Monday 28 October 2019 5 minutes reading time
On the Rettenbach, in fact, Ted Ligety is literally reborn with 5th place on the most beloved track (along with the Birds of Prey of Beaver Creek) and, on the other hand, the great disappointment was represented by Henrik Kristoffersen, only 18th.
Let's start with the American cowboy: at 35, the tri world giant champion returned to a top five almost two years after that giant from Garmisch-Partenkirchen on January 28, 2018, when he finished (albeit very far from Marcel Hirscher) in 3rd place on the day of his last podium in the World Cup. Ted has already announced before the start of this season that he will devote himself only to "his" specialty (in addition to his "adventure at home in the World Pro Ski Tour"), leaving out super-g (we should only see him at Beaver Creek) and combined, to try again to get back there in front.
Of course, Soelden is his home (he is the multi-winner with 4 successes, including three in line from 2011 to 2013 and the last in the 2015 edition) and the difficulties encountered in recent years, especially on tracks like the Face de Bellevarde in Val d''Isere and the Gran Risa in Alta Badia, which will arrive in December after the North American trip, will probably emerge again, but on the Rettenbach a good Ligety has been revised even on the steep, even if the construction of the result, with comeback from the 12th place of the 1st round, it was based above all in the connection between the wall and the final platter of the two runs.
On the other hand, those who lived a nightmare Sunday answered the name of Henrik Kristoffersen: the Norwegian is the main candidate for the general World Cup together with Alexis Pinturault, and certainly the concept cannot change even after a race that he has missed. 87 points against the French winner.
What is certain is that the start was the worst, even though Soelden is far from being the favorite place of Henrik (the only placement in 8th place in 2016, albeit with two cancellations in 2017 and 2018, ed): 10th after the first run, the reigning world champion (who had won 3 of the last 4 giants disputed, even though closing badly in Soldeu) has also made a serious mistake in the approach of the wall in the decisive run, losing at least half a second for then close in 18th place.
"I'm disappointed, of course, but it may happen that we start like this - said Kristoffersen in the post-race - There are no excuses, even if here in Soelden there are particular conditions for snow and slope. I am convinced that I can soon return to my level, now we are already thinking about Levi â€.
In four weeks (November 24) the revenge in slalom in the Finnish town, with the Norwegian who will train first in Sweden and then on the race track (already in excellent condition) in the week before an appointment that, objectively, Kristoffersen cannot fail .
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Slalom Male Levi (FIN)
KRISTOFFERSEN Henrik
NOEL Clément
YULE Daniel
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