Baumann leads super-combined at skiing world championships

SCHLADMING, Austria: Romed Baumann of Austria took the lead after the downhill leg of the super-combined at the Alpine skiing world championships yesterday, and American rival Ted Ligety was the best positioned of the technical specialists in sixth.
Baumann, who has won two World Cup super-combined races, clocked 2 minutes, 1.38 seconds down the icy Planai course, which was harder than in Saturday’s traditional downhill after two more days of temperatures far below freezing.
“I knew it was a giant run as soon as I crossed the finish line,” said Baumann, who didn’t qualify for the Saturday’s downhill squad. “I knew I can handle this course well but you just can’t tell what might have happened in the downhill race. ... Now I must hope the slalom specialists make some mistakes tonight.”
Two-time defending champion Aksel Lund Svindal, the Norwegian who won Saturday’s downhill, was second, 0.14 behind. Christof Innerhofer of Italy, the defending silver medalist, was third, 0.38 behind.
“It’s not very good, it’s OK,” Svindal said. “I’m in second place now but it’s the time difference that’s important. It’s a little too close with the slalom guys. But it’s not over until it’s over.”
Ligety was 0.72 behind Baumann. Also, technical specialist Ivica Kostelic of Croatia was 10th, 1.37 behind, and Benjamin Raich of Austria was 12th, 1.52 behind.
Kostelic and Raich, both former overall champions, share the record of World Cup wins in super-combi with five each.
Alexis Pinturault of France, another pre-race favorite, was far back in 22nd, 3.35 behind.
Ligety won the combined in the old format with two slalom runs at the 2006 Turin Olympics, but he’s never been on the podium in super-combined.
While still known for his giant slalom ability, Ligety has improved in the speed disciplines lately, as evidenced by his super-G victory to open the championships. Where downhill specialists struggled on the steep final pitch, Ligety excelled, throwing his skis into each turn and leaning down and touching the snow with his hip and hands as if skiing GS.
“I felt like I skied pretty well. It’s not a hill that is easy but I charged the whole way and kept it clean,” Ligety said. “I’m really happy to be only seven-tenths back.”
Ligety had a super-combi podium finish in sight in Wengen, Switzerland, last month until his right ski slipped free two-thirds down his slalom run. And in the traditional combined in Kitzbuehel a few weeks ago, he missed a gate early in his first slalom run.
“I’m definitely in a good position,” Ligety said. “I would like to have more time on Ivica and on Benni but I feel like I am in a place where I can easily take those downhill guys. Those slalom guys are close enough as well so it’s going to be a challenge.”
Swiss racer Sandro Viletta narrowly avoided disaster when a course worker skied onto the piste during his run. Viletta managed to ski around the worker, who looked oblivious to what was going on until Viletta passed him at full speed. Viletta smiled when he watched the video in the finish area.
Olympic champion Bode Miller is out for the season recovering from left knee surgery.