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Kudos for Kristian Ghedina leads Italian sweep of World Cup downhill
Posted: Friday December 17, 1999 04:04 PM
VAL GARDENA, Italy (AP) -- Kristian Ghedina was just too good Friday, even for the "Herminator." The Italian attacked the fast and bumpy downhill course to win his 11th World Cup by 1.35 seconds. "Beating the Austrians -- especially Hermann Maier, who is in superb shape -- was one of my goals," Ghedina said. "Today I did it, and it proves I have the potential to do it again." Maier, winner of five races this season and the overall World Cup leader, finished sixth -- his worst result this season. "I chose the wrong skis," Maier said. "But even if I had skied a few tenths faster there is no way I could catch Ghedina." Maier lost his balance several times, nearly falling on the final bump before the finish. He was thrown backward and had to squat on his skis before regaining his tuck position. It was Ghedina's third victory in as many years on Val Gardena's 3,500-meter Saslong course -- his favorite piste. Reaching speeds of 135 kph (85 mph), the Italian finished in 2 minutes, 2.99 seconds. "I can't believe I was so fast," Ghedina said. "I got thrown back on one corner and lost a lot of time." Austrian Josef Strobl was second in 2.04.34, while Ed Podivinsky of Canada -- racing on the course where he tore a knee ligament last year -- was a surprising third Friday in 2:04.37. "It feels great," Podivinsky said. "When I heard that my teammates had done well, I knew I could do even better." Podivinsky's injury last year, amidst a frightening crash off one of the camel bumps, forced him to sit out the remainder of the season. He returned to the tour last month. "I think about that section every time I get to it," Podivinsky said. "I probably take the widest line of anybody through those bumps." Winner of a single World Cup in 1994, Podivinsky, 29, last stood on the podium in 1998 after finishing third in a combined event in Kitzbuhel, Austria. Maier easily retained his lead in the overall standings, losing only five points off a 200-point advantage. He also saw his downhill lead decrease from 40 points to 28. Teammate Stephan Eberharter, who finished just ahead of Maier on Friday, got within 195 points of his countryman in the overall while Ghedina closed in the downhill. Despite not winning their seventh event in nine World Cup races, the Austrians have six skiers in the top 10. Friday's race was a rescheduled downhill canceled two weeks ago in Val D'Isere, France because of heavy snowfall. A second downhill is scheduled in this Alpine resort Saturday, followed by a giant slalom in nearby Alta Badia on Sunday.
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