Hirscher bags record fifth Val d'Isere victory

Austrian master Marcel Hirscher confirmed his impressive early-season form with another dominant victory in Saturday's World Cup giant slalom in Val d'Isere.

Hirscher, with two victories in Beaver Creek (giant, super-G) and a third place in the Soelden giant already to his name this year, was fastest down both legs in brilliant sunshine and crisp conditions in the French Alps, clocking a combined time of 2min 08.46sec.

The 26-year-old four-time overall World Cup champion, and reigning double world giant slalom silver medallist, was faultless down the testing second run on the infamous Face de Bellevarde, his 34th career victory on the circuit seeing him leapfrog Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal into first place in the standings.

Felix Neureuther of Germany finished second, at 1.29sec, with France's Victor Muffat-Jeandet completing the podium, at 1.58sec.

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen, sitting in second place after the first run, misjudged a lip high up, taking off and failing to regain control on landing.

Giant slalom king Ted Ligety of the United States, suffering with back pain, skied out of the first leg after a costly mistake midway down the course set him nearly three seconds behind the leaders.

The man nicknamed Mr. GS, is struggling in his signature discipline lately, with only one podium finish in his last six outings including a rare "did not finish" in Beaver Creek last week.

Frenchman Alexis Pinturault, Olympic and world bronze medallist in the giant slalom, did not start as he continued to recover from a heavy fall in the Colorado resort.
Source :AFP