Ligety dominates World Cup giant slalom

ALTA BADIA, Italy (AFP) –

Ted Ligety of the USA, who came in first, celebrates on the podium after winning the Men’s World Cup Giant Slalom on December 16, 2012, in Alta Badia. Ligety timed more than two seconds quicker than Marcel Hirscher of Austria and Thomas Fanara of France.

Ted Ligety of the United States won the men’s World Cup giant slalom here on Sunday timing more than two seconds quicker than Marcel Hirscher of Austria and Thomas Fanara of France.

It was the 14th World cup win of his career for Ligety, and his third in four giant slaloms completed so far this season.

Ligety all but killed off the competition on the first run at Alta Badia with his lead time more than two seconds faster than Hirscher, the young Austrian who had won the last giant slalom at Val D’Isere last week.

The American giant slalom world champion was third in that race having won the opening two races in the discipline.

The 100 points he collected for the win means that he closes the gap on World Cup overall leader Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway to 106 points. Svindal was ninth on Sunday

“I had a great first run and on the second leg I tried not to think of the big lead that I had,” said Ligety. “You can easily lose your focus and even a two seconds lead can be slashed.

“But I am not unbeatable in giant slalom, just look at Val D’Isere last weekend. The piste there is really different and the gates are close to each other.”

Hirscher said that he was happy with his second place, agreeing that Ligety was head and shoulders above everyone else over the giant slalom.

“Up until now, Ted is dominant in this discipline and is scoring a lot of points also in the super-G, while Aksel Sund is strong in the speed disciplines so that makes it really tough.”