Austria's Romed Baumann won Sunday's super-combined race at Chamonix for his second World Cup win, three years after he last topped a podium.The Austrian timed 2min 56.10sec to finish 1.10sec ahead of Frenchman Alexis Pinturault, with Switzerland's Beat Feuz a further 0.09sec adrift.
Baumann dominated the downhill portion of the race where he opened up a 3.27sec advantage over Pinturault to give the 26-year-old a vital cushion, as the Austrian continued on from his good form of Saturday where he had placed second in that downhill behind Canadian Jan Hudec.
"After my good showing in the Friday and Saturday's finals, I knew I had a good chance to shine in the super-combined," said Baumann, whose previous race win was also a super combined, at Sestriere in Italy in 2009.
"My skis ran really well and it's not by chance that the top three raced on the same make of ski.
"I like this type of snow because you have to attack without pushing it too much. It's a balance you have to find.
"In slalom you have to be fluid and be careful not to make any mistakes. My goal for the end of the season is to win a downhill."
Pinturault revelled in his podium finish as he aims to master both technical and speed events.
"I'm looking to be an all-rounder and this podium in the super-combined is great for me," the Frenchman said.
"It's fantastic, especially in France, in front of French fans.
"Now if I want to win, I'll have to go and dig a little deeper in the downhill.
"I have to work on my gliding sections. But the process is a lot longer for the speed disciplines.
"I'll have to push myself a little from the top, but not too much to not lose my explosiveness, which is a key asset for the technical events."
Third-placed Feuz said he was pleased to have refound his groove after a couple of disappointing outings in recent weeks.
"Not a bad weekend with a fourth place in yesterday's downhill and this podium," he said.
"I've got to say I've found my rhythm after being rubbish in Kitzbuehel and in Garmisch."
Overall season leader Ivica Kostelic of Croatia came in seventh to maintain his lead on 941 points, with Austrian Marcel Hirscher in second (825), and Feuz in third (793).
"Certainly, in the overall standings, I've got a little closer to Kostelic," said Feuz. "All points are good to take but my season's goal is not the overall title."
Posted on Monday, February 06, 2012 @ 06:01:45 JST by admin
