Vidal comes to life
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ByEurosport
Published 22/01/2006 at 11:39 GMT
France's Jean-Pierre Vidal won the Kitzbuehel slalom Sunday as Austria's Benjamin Raich stretched his overall World Cup lead with third place and the win in the combined. It was the first win since the 2002 Games for the Olympic slalom champion and the fi
ALPINE SKIING Jean-Pierre Vidal Kitzbuehel 2006
Image credit: Reuters
It wasn't pretty as Vidal bloodied his nose slamming into gate and barrelled into a press photographer after the finish.
But even lying flat on his back, the 28-year old Frenchman raised his arms in the air in jubilation, renewing with success after the Salt Lake City Games and his only other World Cup win in Kranskja Gora in December, 2001.
Another Frenchman, Stéphane Tissot, finished a surprise fourth.
"It's magic. It's always been my dream to win here especially as my uncle Jean-Noel Augert was the last Frenchman to have won a slalom in Kitzbuehel," Vidal told reporters.
Augert's victory took place 33 years ago, in 1973.
"I knew I had the means to win a race this season. I came close in Adelboden and even closer in Wengen when I was in front of Rocca and made a big mistake," Vidal added.
"It's hard to realise what it means to win here, especially after all the injuries and doubts I had after the (Salt Lake City) Olympics.
"Today, I'm very proud. To be Olympic champion and win in Kitzbuehel, what more do you need in a career?"
RAICH STRETCHES LEAD
But once again, it was Austria's weekend as the natives took three of the top five spots.
Reinfried Herbst was second ahead of team-mate Raich in the slalom while the latter increased his overall World Cup lead on nearest rivals Michael Walchhofer, who was disqualified on the first leg, and American Bode Miller.
Miller finished second in the combined ahead of Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal.
World Cup leader Giorgio Rocca, winner of the first five slaloms of the season, missed a gate but made the trip back and completed the course outside the top 30.
Saturday's downhill winner Michael Walchhofer was disqualified in the first leg.
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