Reichelt wins final super-G at Aspen
aspen» Austrian veteran Hannes Reichelt sliced through a challenging super-G course to win the last race of the World Cup season on Aspen’s relentless Ruthie’s Run on Thursday.
The 36-year-old Reichelt, the oldest racer in the field of 25 men, held a deep tuck through the plunging Aztec face and the notorious Airplane Turn to finish in 1 minute, 8.22 seconds. Italy’s Dominik Paris took second, 0.11 back, followed by Switzerland’s Mauro Cavaziel and Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who tied for third, 0.33 behind.
Reichelt won the super-G world title at Beaver Creek’s Birds of Prey race in 2015. Six months after having back surgery, he found another gold on Colorado snow on Thursday.
There’s nothing particularly lucky about Colorado snow, he said.
“Maybe it’s not the snow. Maybe it’s the fans and the people who are watching the races,” he said.
Reichelt is the second-oldest man to win a super-G race. Like the snow, that doesn’t matter, he said.
“I don’t feel old,” he said. “With that age and that experience you are getting really good and maybe thinking that the sport is for younger guys, maybe that’s the wrong thinking. In downhill and super-G it’s really important for the experience to not get injured. For me, speed events are good for old guys.”
The ruthless rutting as the race progressed proved challenging for many racers. Seven skiers were unable to hold their line and either crashed or missed gates. Five did not finish the race and two were disqualified.
Norwegian powerhouse Kjetil Jansrud finished ninth, but his unassailable lead after a dominating super-G season earned him his second World Cup super-G title. Norwegian skiers have ruled super-G racing, winning world titles for six years in a row. The 31-yearold said he expects Norway to continue its dominance, especially when Aksel Lund Svindal returns
Upcoming schedule
FRIDAY 10:30 a.m.: Alpine team event (U.S. not participating) SATURDAY 9 a.m.: Men’s giant slalom, Run 1 10 a.m.: Women’s slalom, Run 1 11:30 a.m.: Men’s giant slalom, Run 2 12:30 p.m.: Women’s slalom, Run 2 SUNDAY 9 a.m.: Women’s giant slalom, Run 1 10 a.m.: Men’s slalom, Run 1 11:30 a.m.: Women’s giant slalom, Run 2 12:30 p.m.: Men’s slalom, Run 2 from his knee injury next season. Jansrud said he hopes to keep racing for many more years.
“From my side, it’s very nice to see dinosaurs like Reichelt because that means I have more years to go,” Jansrud said.