Skip to main contentAccess keys helpA-Z index

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
watch listenBBC SportBBC Sport
Low graphics|Help
---------------
CHOOSE A SPORT
RELATED BBC SITES
Last Updated: Sunday, 7 January 2007, 13:34 GMT
Schild continues winning streak
Marlies Schild
Schild has only failed to win one of this season's slalom events
Marlies Schild stretched her lead in the women's World Cup standings with a fifth slalom win of the season at Kranjska Gora in Slovenia.

The Austrian's winning time was one minute 40.96secs, 0.66 secs ahead of Czech Sarka Zahrobska.

Schild's victory keeps her on track to match Janica Kostelic's record of eight wins in the discipline in one season.

In Abelboden, rising Swiss star Marc Berthod, 23, claimed a debut World Cup win, taking victory in the slalom.

"It is absolutely unbelievable what is happening to me right now," said the 25-year-old Schild. "Winning just seems so easy for me."

Schild, bronze medallist at last year's Winter Olympics, will be the big favourite at February's World Championships, the next time the leading women race a slalom.

Kostelic, the winner from the last championships, is taking a sabbatical this year.

As for Berthod, he came from 27th place at the halfway stage to finish ahead of Austrian Benjamin Raich, Schild's boyfriend.

Berthod had been a huge 2.76 seconds behind first-leg leader Markus Larsson of Sweden but benefited from his early start to post a blistering time in the second run.

I never thought I could win because there was such a big gap between me and the favourites

Marc Berthod

Defending overall World Cup champion Raich held on to second place after throwing away a 2.71-second advantage over Berthod.

"This is crazy," said Berthod. "My goal this morning was just to score some points because I knew it would be an achievement just to qualify for the second run.

"I knew of course that it was an advantage to start early in these conditions but I never thought I could win because there was such a big gap between me and the favourites."

Berthod had qualified for the second run of a World Cup slalom race on just four previous occasions, finishing only twice - in 16th and 20th place.

As well as completing an incredible day for Berthod himself, Sunday's victory was a massive boost for the Swiss ski team who had gone nearly three years without a win on the men's World Cup circuit.

Didier Cuche was the last Swiss man to celebrate a World Cup victory when he won a downhill race in Garmisch, Germany, on 30 January, 2004.

"It's so important for the team because we've been waiting so long for this," Berthod said.

"We've also struggled in slalom in recent seasons so this is really very special."

Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal held on to the overall World Cup lead despite failing to finish the first leg.

American former overall champion Bode Miller, who was 11th after the first leg, lost his right ski on the second run.


Kranjska Gora result:

1 M Schild (Aut) 1mins 40.96secs (1st run: 50.15secs / 2nd run: 50.81secs)
2 S Zahrobska (Cze) 1:41.62 (50.55/51.07)
3 V Zuzulova (Svk) 1:42.61 (50.77/51.84)
4 T Poutiainen (Fin) 1:42.68 (50.78/51.90)
5 A Jelusic (Cro) 1:42.87 (51.27/51.60)
6 T Borssen (Swe) 1:43.04 (51.46/51.58)
7 N Hosp (Aut) 1:43.11 (51.90/51.21)
8 K L Richardson (USA) 1:43.19 (52.03/51.16)
9 M Kirchgasser (Aut) 1:43.28 (52.00/51.28)
10 F De Leymarie (Fra) 1:43.61 (52.38/51.23)

World championship slalom standings:
1 M Schild (Aut) 560 pts
2 T Borssen (Swe) 292
3 A Jelusic (Cro) 283
4 K Zettel (Aut) 257
5 S Zahrobska (Cze) 245
6 N Hosp (Aut) 244
7 V Zuzulova (Slk) 184
8 T Poutiainen (Fin) 157
9 M Bergmann-Schmuderer (Ger) 145
10 A Gerg (Ger) 126
= M Kirchgasser (Aut) 126
= M Pietilae-Holmner (Swe) 126

World championship overall standings:
1 M Schild (Aut) 797 pts
2 N Hosp (Aut) 700
3 K Zettel (Aut) 562
4 L Kildow (US) 448
5 R Goetschl (Aut) 441
6 A Paerson (Swe) 408
7 J Mancuso (US) 374
8 T Poutiainen (Fin) 358
9 M Kirchgasser (Aut) 343
10 S Zahrobska (Cze) 340

Adelboden result:
1 M Berthod (Swi) 1min 47.42secs
2 B Raich (Aut) 1:47.68
3 M Matt (Aut) 1:47.80
4 K Palander (Fin) 1:47.82
5 M Larsson (Swe) 1:47.97
6 G Rocca (Ita) 1:48.10
7 M Moelgg (Ita) 1:48.11
8 J Byggmark (Swe) 1:48.24
, 9 M Janyk (Can) 1:48.40
10 D Albrecht (Swi) 1:48.67

World championship slalom standings:
1 M Larsson (Swe) 225pts
2 B Raich (Aut) 180
3 G Rocca (Ita) 150
4 M Janyk (Can) 145
5 J Byggmark (Swe) 143
6 K Palander (Fin) 141
7 M Berthod (Swi) 100
= M Matt (Aut) 100
= A Myhrer (Swe) 100
10 F Neureuther (Ger) 99

World championship overall standings:
1 A L Svindal (Nor) 639pts
2 Didier Cuche (Swi) 571
3 B Miller (USA) 540
4 P Fill (Ita) 464
5 B Raich (Aut) 458
6 K Palander (Fin) 387
7 M Walchhofer (Aut) 348
8 M Buechel (Lie) 326
9 M Scheiber (Aut) 308
10 T Ligety (USA) 292



SPORT-BY-SPORT GUIDES
 


SEE ALSO
Hosp wins but Alcott misses out
06 Jan 07 |  Winter Sports


RELATED BBC LINKS:

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

BBC PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Daily and weekly e-mails | Mobiles | Desktop Tools | News Feeds | Interactive Television | Downloads
Sport Homepage | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Snooker | Horse Racing | Cycling | Disability sport | Olympics 2012 | Sport Relief | Other sport...

Help | Privacy & Cookies Policy | News sources | About the BBC | Contact us