The Pacesetter

ByEurosport

Published 15/01/2006 at 10:04 GMT

World No. 1 Benjamin Raich led through the first run at Wengen's slalom, as winner of all four slaloms this season Giorgio Rocca was fourth. In the first three slaloms of the season Raich also led after the first run, only to see Rocca steal the lead afte

ALPINE SKIING 2005-2006 Adelboden Benjamin Raich

Image credit: Reuters

Mr. Consistency won Friday's super-combined event, but opted not to race in yesterday's downhill in order to prepare for Sunday's race. It paid off in the first run, in which he finished in 50.46 seconds.

Germany's Alois Vogl was second at just 0.15 seconds off pace, and American Ted Ligety was also nipping at Raich's heels 0.19 seconds back in third. Rocca was 0.30 seconds off of the Austrian's time.

Raich finished fourth in the slalom portion of the combined event, but should be encouraged by the fact that the dominant Rocca skied out of the slalom portion after straddling a gate.

Wengen