GURGL (AUSTRIA) (ITALPRESS) – Paco Rassat takes the slalom of Gurgl. First victory, and first podium, in career for French, protagonist of an extraordinary remonta (13 positions earned) in the second heat: 1’44′′55 the combined time of the transalpine, which also earns the top of the World Cup overall ranking: “It’s crazy, my dream has become reality. To Levi I did my best career result and gave me the strength to push and have fun here too”, the words of Rassat, which precedes 0′07 Armand Marchand.
Best career achievement for the 28-year-old Liege, which brings Belgium to the World Cup podium for the first time in history. “I have always fought to live this kind of day and it was worth it. First podium for Belgium? I come from a small country and I dedicate this result to my parents”, the statements of a moving Marchand.
The defeat of the day is Atle Lie McGrath. The Norwegian, after a first perfect heat, does not find the same sensations in the second test and closes third to 0′′09 from Rassat: “A podium is always a podium, I’m always very close to victory, but these are the races and that’s why we like to get off the track,” McGrath says.
At the foot of the podium is the other Norwegian Timon Haugan, fourth at 0′′′29 in front of the Swiss Tanguy Nef (+0′′′65). Sixth the Austrian Dominik Raschner (+0′′′′70), which in front of the home audience puts on stage the day comeback, with 19 seats recovered between the first and the second heat. Complete the top ten French Viktor Muffat-Jeandet (+0′′73), the German Linus Strasser (+0′′76), the Bulgarian Albert Popov (+0′′′88) and the Brazilian Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (+0′′′93).
The big ones are more late: the Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen and the French Clement Noel finish at the 12th place (+0′′99), while the Austrians Marco Schwarz (+1′′28) and Manuel Feller (+2′′′04) are 21° and 27° respectively.
The best of the Italians is Alex Vinatzer, who cuts the finish line in 19th square to 1′′17 after being tenth in half race: “I wanted to try to push right away, but I slipped twice on the right foot and so I compromised the pace for the whole second heat. Today’s ski was not enough to go in front, but I could have gotten some places back.” At points also Tommaso Sala, 26° to 1′′94. “It was important to be in this second heat because of the question of trust and to find the pace of race – he emphasizes -. I tried to take advantage of the smooth track, on a difficult snow to interpret. I have a lot of confidence in the program that I’m doing, we’re making important steps and I’m very confident for the next races,” adds Sala. Get rid of Simon Maurberger, Tobias Kastlunger and Matteo Canins.
The World Cup, after Sunday’s slalom in Gurgl, will be the protagonist from 27 to 30 November in Copper Mountain, with two men’s races (super-G, giant) and two women’s (giant, slalom).
L’ORDINE DI ARRIVO
1. Paco Rassat (Fra) in 1’44′′55
2. Armand Marchant (Bel) to 0′′07
3. Athle Lie McGrath (Nor) to 0′′09
4. Timon Haugan (Nor) to 0′′29
5. Tanguy Nef (Sui) to 0′′′65
6. Dominik Raschner (Aut) to 0′′70
7. Victor Muffat-Jeandet (Fra) to 0′′73
8. Linus Strasser (Ger) to 0′′′76
9. Albert Popov (Bul) to 0′′88
10. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (Bra) to 0′′93
19. Alex Vinatzer (Ita) to 1′′17
26. Thomas Sala (Ita) to 1′′94
LA CLASSIFICA GENERALE
1. Paco Rassat (Fra) 140 points
2. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen (126)
3. Athle Lie McGrath (Nor) 120
4. Timon Haugan (Nor) 117
5. Clement Noel (Fra) 102
6. Marco Schwarz (Aut) 102
7. Marco Odermatt (Sui) 100
8. Armand Marchand (Bel) 80
9. Henrik Kristoffersen (Nor) 78
10. Eduard Hallberg (Fra) 60
18. Alex Vinatzer (Ita) 44
34. Tobias Kastlunger (Ita) 22
47. Luca De Aliprandini (Ita) 9
49. Giovanni Borsotti (Ita) 7
51. Tommaso Sala (Ita) 5
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
