Palander pulls through
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Published 17/12/2006 at 12:49 GMT
Finn Kalle Palander battled snowy conditions and held off a strong challenge from Bode Miller to win Alta Badia's giant slalom on Sunday and claim his first victory since undergoing off-season knee surgery.
ALPINE SKIING 2006-2007 Alta Badia Kalle Palander Finland giant slalom
Image credit: Reuters
The win was Palander's 13th World Cup triumph and third in the discipline, coming at the Italian resort where he won his first World Cup giant slalom in 2003.
Palander finished in a combined time of two minutes and 28.82 seconds after blazing to an untouchable first-run time of 1:13.97.
The American Miller claimed his third World Cup podium of the season finishing at 0.51 seconds behind Palander despite an impressive second run that moved him from seventh to second.
Switzerland's Dider Defago claimed third at a further 0.08 seconds back, while World Cup and Olympic champion Benjamin Raich took fourth.
Palander injured his knee ligaments when he fell at the giant slalom World Cup finals in Are in March and needed a 40-day rehabilitation period after undergoing surgery.
The 29-year-old only returned to the slopes to start training for this current season in August.
"I never expected to get a win before Christmas, I have come back really quickly," said Palander, who returned to skis just 30 days before the scheduled start of the World Cup campaign.
"But I love this hill, I really don't remember skiing badly here. You get so much respect from the other skiers when you win here and this feels like payback time for me."
Miller, who said he has been struggling to sleep since being barred from using his mobile home by the U.S. team, struggled to understand his inability to keep pace on the first run.
"I skied well and I couldn't believe I went in 1.7 seconds behind after making virtually no mistakes. But overall it was a phenomenal race for me on this hill," Miller said.
Follow complete LIVE coverage of the men's slalom from Alta Badia starting at 10:00 CET on www.eurosport.com and Eurosport television.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement