The results show that Austria’s World Cup king, Marcel Hirscher, won again ahead of Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen in the Giant Slalom at Val d’Isere (FRA) on Saturday.
But it was much more than a win. It was more like a parade. Hirscher flew down La Face de Bellevarde and had an enormous margin of 0.71 seconds after the first run. He didn’t let up on the second run either, although he was seventh on time, and ended with a stunning margin of 1.20 seconds over Kristoffersen, who moved from fourth to second overall on his second run.
Hirscher has won five discipline titles in the Giant Slalom and has won silver and gold in the two races so far this season. The win at Val d’Isere was his fifth there in Giant Slalom races, and his 60th career World Cup win. He had his greatest year ever in 2017-18, with 13 wins and he’s off to a hot start again in 2018-19.
For Kristoffersen, he wasn’t close. Over last season and this season, this was the 11th time they have finished 1-2 (with Kristoffersen always second).
American Tommy Ford, 29, had his best World Cup finish ever in sixth. He’d previously been in the top-10 three times, with a best of eighth in are (SWE) last March.
The Sunday Slalom race was canceled because of high winds. Summaries:
FIS Alpine World Cup
Val d’Isere (FRA) ~ 8-9 December 2018
(Full results here)
Men’s Giant Slalom: 1. Marcel Hirscher (AUT), 1:42.99; 2. Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR), 1:44.17; 3. Matts Olsson (SWE), 1:44.30; 4. Alexis Pinturault (FRA), 1:44.45; 5. Loic Meillard (FRA), 1:44.53. Also: 6. Tommy Ford (USA), 1:44.68; … 25. Ted Ligety (USA), 1:45.93.
