Janka Leads After First Giant Slalom Run

Janka posted a time of one minute, 08.25 seconds down the steep, icy Bellevarde piste on a sunny day at the French Alps resort.

The Newest Articles

Paerson returns to winning ways Vonn successes pile up cash mountain Swiss Schild injures knee in downhill training Cuche at the double with Kitzbuehel downhill win Kostelic wins Wengen slalom

Janka clears gate during first run of men`s Giant Slalom race at Alpine Skiing World Championships 2009 in Val d`Isere

Author

Reuters

Photo:
Reuters

TEXT

Published: February 13, 2009 11:58h

Switzerland's Carlo Janka is poised to add a giant slalom gold medal to the bronze he won in the downhill when he clocked the fastest first run at the world championships on Friday.

Janka, who was third behind Canada's John Kucera on Saturday, posted a time of one minute, 08.25 seconds down the steep, icy Bellevarde piste on a sunny day at the French Alps resort.

The 22-year-old Janka, who claimed his first World Cup win in a giant slalom at the same venue last December, was the second man to start and nobody was able to get close to his time.

Austria, still without a medal after three men's events, are pinning their hopes on Olympic champion Benjamin Raich and he posted the second-fastest time, 0.48 second behind Janka.

Italy's Massimiliano Blardone remained in contention with the third fastest time, 0.96 second behind Janka according to provisional results.

The second run starts at 1230 GMT.

Ads