Italian's golden sensation at Kandahar

Nobody expected him to win. Italian Christof Innerhofer performed a nearly perfect run. He won the Men's Super G followed by Austria's Hannes Reichelt and Croatia's Ivica Kostelic. The course on Kandahar was very challenging.

Day two of the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships was ruled by Italy’s Christof Innerhofer. Surprisingly the young Italian won the Super G. He won the gold medal with a large advance. Hannes Reichelt (AUT) and Ivica Kostelić (CRO) joined him on the podium.

Italian winner and a drop-out rate of 50 percent

At the first male race – finished with only half of the participants – it was not the big favorite and title holder Didier Cuche (SUI) who left all of the rest behind, it was the 26-year old Innerhofer. He went down the 2200 meters slope in 1:38.31 minutes. Hannes Reichelt (AUT) finished second place and 0.60 seconds behind and Ivica Kostelić (CRO) followed in third place 0.72 seconds behind. Didier Cuche from Switzerland was in fourth position. Benjamin Raich and Romed Baumann finished fifth and sixth place to complete a good Austrian result. Bode Miller (USA), former champion, could only 12th place after having trouble on one gate.

First Title for “Winnerhofer”

Innerhofer’s win was his first title and the second for Italy in the men’s history after the first place of Patrick Staudacher in 2007. In gleaming sunshine Innerhofer went down the very challenging icy slope and truly deserved the name “Winnerhofer” which the race commentator gave him. “I can’t believe it, this is so amazing” so the new champion.

Kandahar – a challenging course

Many other racers had problems: 32 of the 73 participants dropped out before arriving at the finish. Former medal winners like Jan Hudec (CAN) or Aksel Lund Svindal (NOR) failed to finish. The “Kandahar” is the steepest slope of the World Cup, including the notorious “free fall” with a grade of 92 %. “After a few mistakes I stopped counting them” so Hannes Reichelt, silver medalist.

 

Results Men's Super-G

1. Christof INNERHOFER (ITA)
2. Hannes REICHELT (AUT)
3. Ivica KOSTELIC (CRO)

4. Didier CUCHE (SUI)
5. Benjamin RAICH (AUT)
6. Romed BAUMANN (AUT)

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS 

Back