Hirscher remains super in slalom

Austrian star stays on cruise control in latest victory

WENGEN, SWITZERLAND» Marcel Hirscher is unbeatable in slalom right now, and his World Cup win Sunday finally gave him a victory at Wengen.

The Austrian star extended his first-run lead to finish 0.93 of a second ahead of Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway. Andre Myhrer of Sweden was third, 1.72 back.

Hirscher’s domination was so complete he also had the fastest time in the second run, 0.34 quicker than Kristoffersen, by attacking his rival’s target rather than protecting his lead.

“I have been on the limits, especially on the steep part, so everybody is beatable,” Hirscher said.

Hirscher’s fifth straight success in slalom was the 53rd World Cup win of his career yet a first at the Swiss course where he is a three-time runner-up.

“It’s something big for me. This was the last classic race on the calendar that I haven’t won until today,” the reigning slalom world champion said.

Earning 100 World Cup points, Hirscher stretched his lead over second-placed Kristoffersen in both the overall and slalom season-long standings. Hirscher is the six-time defending overall champion.

Yet again at a post-race news conference, Kristoffersen was asked how it is possible to beat Hirscher on current form.

“He is just better, that’s the way it is,” said the 24-year-old Norwegian, who has seven runner-up finishes this season without a win. “I will never give up, that’s for sure.”

Hirscher is third on the men’s all-time World Cup wins list and will be favored to match the 54-win total of Austrian great Hermann Maier next weekend. Appropriately, the World Cup circuit now moves to celebrated Austrian venue Kitzbuehel.

At age 28, Hirscher would need several more years of consistent winning to catch the 86 wins of Ingemar Stenmark, the Swedish great who raced slalom and giant slalom in the 1970s and 1980s.

Stenmark won Olympic gold medals in both technical races at the 1980 Lake Placid Games. Hirscher is the favorite to repeat next month at the PyeongChang Games in South Korea.