Sat 25/01 - Kitzbuehel and Cortina(2) Downhills

Another good day yesterday, winning all the head to heads. Actually, I haven't seen what happened in slalom's run2 - I know it was strange, although not as strange as run1 setted by Papa Kostelic.
Feeling is that Hargin's peak form is either gone, or rather faded, or it's still there (he's stil a top performer) but he's bearing in his mind what happened in Adelboden when he couldn't hold the lead and dropped to 4th in the second run.

On to today's DHs - the biggest events of the tours.

I think anything could happen in Kitz. But for the most part Bode looks like the one who should win (my humble opininion: Bode came back more for winning Kitz than for the Olympics). Svindal maybe his the best physical power and endurance -key elements on this long course. Reichelt's form has raised recently and so Kueng's. Last year winner, Paris, had problems getting back in shape after his crash in december, hardly he'll defend his title.

On ladies side Hoefl-Riesch is the one to beat, her form is terrific at the moment and she's in full run for the Cup.
Behind her the same lot: Fenninger, Weirather and Goergl.
I had good impressions from Mancuso yesterday, and I'm backing her today, she's getting closer and closer to the top, and so is the whole US team: almost every one scored a season best yesterday.
So I'm picking Leanne Smith over Marchand-Arvier: the frenchwoman lost the whole pre-season and came back to race only few weekends ago, all the missing time is sensible seeing her racing.
Also backing Merighetti, on her favourite course; I know Schmidhofer (bib #39) was 3rd yesterday but I think condition changed a bit for late starters: young US Jakie Wiles (bib #41) was 15th (first WC points for her) and Hungarian Miklos (bib #45) was 18th tied with Slovenian Ferk (bib #38)  

Alpine Skiing - some results from La Parva (Chile)

In La Parva took place some speed events valid for the South American Cup, but which involved some names of relevance also for the World Cup.

Men's downhill 1

Josef Ferstl finished in the top 30 only twice in WC, 9th in Garmisch, 30th in Kvitfjell. He has some good placements, with some wins and podiums in European Cup though, and also was 3rd in DH standind in 2012.

Brice Roger, scored several top 30 placements last season in WC and also was 15th at the Championships in Schladming. A good up and comers

Not much to say about Russian Alexander Glebov, he can easily dominate National Champs but no important results on main tour.

Just down the podium Clarey leads the group of France's veteran which includes Fayed, and out of the top10 Bertrand, Theaux, W-Champs DH bronze Poisson, Mermillod-Blondin and W-Champs SG silver De Tessieres.

Other interesting names: UK's hope Crawford and Baldwin, who's found several top10 finish here in Chile; Slovenia's Perko and Sporn

Men's Downhill 2

Josef Ferstl doubled the succes, followed by his countryman Andreas Strodl who hasn't competed since 2011.

France scored a good team-result: Theaux was 3rd, Clarey 5th, Bertrand just behind, while Fayed, Poisson, Mermillod-Blondin and De Tessieres ended inside the top 20. Roger didn't race.

Good 4th place for combined specialist Zrncic-Dim and the two Britons both in the top 10

Women's Downhill 1

Swiss team makes big thing from the start placing all the atlethes in the top 10.

4th placed Joana Haehlen is the only new name, she has never raced

in WC, some good placements in European Cup and couple of medals at the Junior Champs.

Good 3rd place for Slovenian Stuhec, and two Russian novice Yakovishina 10th followed by her countrywoman Bedareva, both class '92.

All Ferk and Brodnik from Slovenia and Weirather from Liechtenstein finished inside the top 20.

Women's Downhill 2

Switzerland still dominating. Gut didn't take part as well as Weirather.

Another top 10 finish for Stuhec and Yakovishina while Bedareva was 11th again. 

Gisin showed great appreciation for La Parva on her blog, even though internet and news have some difficulties to make their way up there.

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