Alpine Skiing World Cup
Hirscher seals GS win for Austria
Marcel Hirscher gave the Austrian men's team their first victory of the Alpine skiing World Cup season when he won the giant slalom at Val d'Isere.
The overall World Cup holder, who had been on the podium four times so far, added a 13th win to his career record in a combined time of one minute 54.10 seconds.
"The first win of the season is always a relief and a turning point, for me and for the fans, but I had had four podiums already this season and I knew it was only a matter of time," he told reporters.
Third in Saturday's slalom on the same Bellevarde piste, Hirscher was too strong and consistent for the rest of the field, even though local favourite Alexis Pinturault of France challenged him until the end.
The two had opened up a big gap on the other skiers in the morning run and Pinturault, winner of the previous day's slalom, was still comfortably leading in the second leg before a big mistake four gates before the line ruined his chances of a home double.
"Yesterday was a celebration, today a big disappointment. I hope to make it back on the podium in Alta Badia next week," said the Frenchman, arguably the most versatile skier produced by his country since the days of Val d'Isere's most famous citizen, Jean-Claude Killy.
Hirscher himself is at home in the French resort, having won his maiden World Cup victory on the course in 2009.
"I love it here. I know it's a slope that suits me and that I can tackle with a lot of confidence," he said.
German Stefan Luitz, who had only two top-30 placings behind him, was second, 1.16 seconds adrift, while world champion Ted Ligety struggled to find his pace on the steep piste and had to be content with third, 1.41 behind the winner.
Luitz, a junior world silver medallist, started with bib number 35 and was 25th after the first leg but the 20-year-old German clocked the fastest second leg by far to clinch his first significant result in the top flight.
The Val d'Isere weekend confirmed the rise of a new generation, with Hirscher, Pinturault and Luitz all aged under 23.
The 28-year-old Ligety, who dislikes the Bellevarde course, was not too disappointed.
"I don't like this course which is against my philosophy of giant slalom. It was ugly skiing but it was good enough to be on the podium," said the American, adding that he had big ambitions for next weekend's super-G in Val Gardena, Italy.
In the overall World Cup standings, Hirscher moved back up to third, 60 points behind Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal and 22 behind Ligety, who won the first two giant slaloms of the season.
Maze wins GS to extend World Cup lead
Tina Maze increased her lead in the overall Alpine ski World Cup standings when she won her third victory in as many giant slaloms at St Moritz.
The Slovenian's fourth win of the season put her on 677 points, ahead of Germany's Maria Hoefl-Riesch by 234 points while American Lindsey Vonn lies third, a further 29 points behind.
Maze, the giant slalom world champion, clocked two minutes 11.07 seconds to upstage Olympic champion Vitkoria Rebensburg by 0.08 seconds while France's Tessa Worley was third, 0.55 adrift.
Maze had won Friday's super-combined in St Moritz before finishing just behind Vonn in Saturday's super-G on the same course.
Vonn, who has never been at her best in giant slalom, was fifth after Sunday's first leg but crashed in the afternoon run and ended up 27th.
"I came here hoping to win three races and I did more than half the job," Maze told reporters.
"Two out of three is not bad but I was really looking forward to the super-G because I have never won in this discipline. I know it's not over but I like it when I stick to my plan."
Vonn said: "I did everything I could today and I had the impression I skied well. I'm sorry to finish like this because I know I could have done much better but now I don't have anything left in me."
The weekend struggle between Maze and Vonn heated up after Saturday's race when the Slovenian team issued a protest, saying the American had sworn at her rival after crossing the line with the fastest time.
The protest was rejected and Vonn proclaimed her innocence again on Sunday, telling Reuters: "Those who know me know it's not my style."
Maze declined to comment on the row, adding: "It's true that I'm pushing hard but the battle is more with myself. It did not start in St Moritz, I've been working like crazy for years and since June I've left nothing to chance. It's not a ruthless win, it's just the result of hard work."
The women's circuit moves to Val d'Isere in France next weekend for a super-G and a downhill in which Vonn will try to stretch her unbeaten run in speed events.
