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New challenge Maier excited about skiing the Lauberhorn
Posted: Friday January 14, 2000 11:32 AM
WENGEN, Switzerland (AP) -- Brushing aside his rivals to take an almost unassailable lead in the overall World Cup, "The Herminator" is now relishing the thought of a newer, more challenging adversary: The Lauberhorn, the longest and one of the most demanding courses on the men's circuit. Hermann Maier, who has dominated the ski slopes the last three years, has continued to rule over the men's circuit with an iron grip this season, winning six of the 11 races he's entered so far, and climbing the podium in all but one. Having encountered little resistance in his hunt to reclaim the overall World Cup crown, easily running away with the lead, Maier is ripe for a more challenging opponent. "The Lauberhorn downhill is a monster with passages like nowhere else," said Maier, who won in his first appearance here in 1998. "It has long gliding sections that don't really suit me. "It's a tough course, but I've always liked the race here in Wengen." The classic Lauberhorn downhill, considered one of the toughest stops on the World Cup, is a wildly varying course, which boasts both the fastest and slowest passages on the entire men's circuit, with the Brueggli corner forcing skiers to slam on the breaks to slow to 70 kph (44 mph) and the straight Hannegg section pushing racers to speeds of up to 150 kph (94 mph). If the long gliding sections on the Lauberhorn are not tailored to Maier's aggressive style, the Austrian is particularly brilliant in the technically tricky passages like the notorious Hundschopf and the lower section near the finishing area. Slightly modified this year in an effort to increase safety, race officials have added a few more turns, forcing skiers to slow down. But not everyone is happy about the recent adjustments. "I was very disappointed in training," said Switzerland's top downhiller Dider Cuche. "You don't stop turning. "I don't mind turns, but you lose the true spirit of the downhill," Cuche said. "Instead of having nine downhills and six super-Gs, we're going to end up with 15 super-Gs." Which would play directly into Maier's hand. Staking out his territory, Maier has made the super-G crystal globe his on the last two seasons, winning 10 races over the last two years, and claiming both super-Gs this season. "I guess certain nations don't appreciate the faster downhills," Cuche said. Having never finished worse than fourth on the grueling 4.2 km Lauberhorn course, Maier is expected to continue his reign of terror over the rest of the men's field this weekend, further solidifying his position at the top of the overall table where he sits with 1,020 points, 396 ahead of his closest rival Kjetil Andre Aamodt of Norway. With reigning World Cup champion Lasse Kjus out of action with the flu, Maier's principle rivals in Saturday's downhill, the Lauberhorn's 50th World Cup race, should come from within his own team. Andreas Schifferer, who won here in 1998, the same year he collected the prestigious World Cup downhill crown, and Hannes Trinkl, who edged Maier by a slim .03 in the Lake Louise downhill, are determined to give their illustrious teammate a run for his money. "Maier won last week in Chamonix, but the next time it will be one of us," said Trinkl. The winner in Wengen in 1995 and 1997, Italy's Kristian Ghedina should also figure among the top contenders. The Italian has a strong campaign, collecting a win and a second place on home snow in Val Gardena in December, climbing the podium three times this season. Austria's Stephan Eberharter, who finished runner-up to Maier in two downhills, and third right behind him in Lake Louise, will also be out to beat his teammate. Home fans will have to wait until Sunday's slalom for the best chances of seeing a Swiss skier shine, though the Austrians will still be tough to beat. Didier Plaschy, the winner of two slaloms this season, will figure among the top challengers, but will have to fight off Austrians Thomas Stangassinger, the current leader of the discipline standings, and rising star Benjamin Raich, the winner here last year. Swiss giant slalom specialist Michael Von Gruenigen, who finished runner-up last year, will be looking for his first career slalom victory.
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