ADELBODEN, Switzerland, 8 February 2004 — Finland’s Kalle Palander took the giant slalom World Cup lead with a race victory in difficult weather conditions yesterday after his biggest rival, American Bode Miller, failed to finish the second leg.
Austria’s Benjamin Raich lost the chance to snatch back the overall cup lead when he made a mistake at the third gate and finished a disappointing 24th.
Palander, the slalom World Cup champion, led from Miller after the first leg and finished the day 0.74 seconds ahead of Italian Massimiliano Blardone who made the podium for only the second time in his career.
Austrians Christoph Gruber and Heinz Schilchegger shared third place, 1.12 seconds behind Palander as rain made conditions difficult for the racers.
Palander, who clocked the fastest time in the first run of one minute 12.80 seconds, almost joined his rivals in throwing away his chances on his second run.
Blardone was delighted with his performance after a second place in the Flachau giant slalom last month. “It is good to be on the podium again,” he said. “I waited such a long time to get a podium and it is fun to be on the podium twice. This is a strong boost for me.”
Miller was forced to stop and climb back up after missing a gate early in his run and he then skied out further down the hill after another mistake.
Raich was also unlucky. He managed to stay on his feet after his right ski lifted high in the air but finished 16 places behind former champion and teammate Hermann Maier, who earned his second top-10 giant slalom finish of the season and remains on top of the standings. “I am far from my best shape in giant slalom so a top-10 is good,” said Maier, the 1998 Olympic giant slalom champion, who was only 15th in the first leg.
The result put Palander 39 points ahead of Miller in the giant slalom standings with two events in the discipline left.
The Finn was world slalom champion in 1999 and will be one of the favorites in today’s slalom here.
