It was a formality for sure, but the amazing Marcel Hirscher (AUT) continued to set new records by winning his eighth consecutive overall World Cup title. He finished sixth and third in the Giant Slalom and Slalom at Kranjska Gora (SLO) and wrapped up the title in Sunday.
Hirscher – still only 30 – now has 1,508 points to 999 for second-place Alexis Pinturault (FRA) with just the four races of the World Cup Final next week remaining. Hirscher also wrapped up the seasonal titles in both the Giant Slalom and Slalom, giving him six in each discipline.
Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen won the Giant Slalom on Saturday for his second win of the season; Swiss Ramon Zenhaeusern won the Slalom on Sunday, with Kristoffersen second and Hirscher third.
Hirscher’s eight titles are the most ever; no one else has more than five. His eight consecutive wins is truly astonishing; no one else had more than three. Hirscher now has 138 World Cup medals in a 12-year career, a sensational average of 11.5 per season. He’s moved up to no. 2 all-time in World Cup wins with 68, still trailing all-time leader Ingemar Stenmark (SWE: 1973-89) by 18; Stenmark retired at age 33.
The World Cup Final is in Andorra starting on the 13th. Summaries:
FIS Alpine World Cup
Kranjska Gora (SLO) ~ 8-10 March 2019
(Full results here)
Men’s Giant Slalom: 1. Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR), 2:26.83; 2. Rasmus Windingstad (NOR), 2:26.87; 3. Marco Odermatt (SUI), 2:27.19; 4. Cedric Noger (SUI), 2:27.49; 5. Alexis Pinturault (FRA), 2:27.50. Also in the top 25: 14. Tommy Ford (USA), 2:28.11; … 18. Ryan Cochran-Siegle (USA), 2:28.31; … 23 . Ted Ligety (USA), 2:28.77.
Men’s Slalom: 1. Ramon Zenhaeusern (SUI), 1:39.54; 2. Kristoffersen (NOR), 1:40.69; 3. Marcel Hirscher (AUT), 1:40.71; 4. Manuel Feller (AUT), 1:40.77; 5. Daniel Yule (SUI), 1:41.06.