Plaschy gains first World Cup win

Didier Plaschy had to fight his way through not only a ragged second run but an entire country's indifference.

Didier Plaschy had to fight his way through not only a ragged second run but an entire country's indifference.

The 26-year-old Swiss racer skied to victory by nearly a full second over Austria's Thomas Stangassinger in a men's World Cup slalom in Beaver Creek Colorado on Tuesday.

Plaschy, given a boost of confidence after winning a Nor-Am race a week ago at nearby Breckenridge, paced the first run, carrying a slim lead of .11 seconds over Austria's Benjamin Raich into the second heat.

Plaschy, 26, then clocked the third-fastest time in the second run of 43.94 seconds that was choppy but quick for a combined time of 1 minute, 24.69 seconds to claim his first career World Cup victory. He previously was second in a slalom at Kitzbuhel last January.

"The visibility wasn't so good on the second run," Plaschy said. "It was dark and you couldn't see the bumps and the holes. The whole run I couldn't find a rhythm. I was fighting, fighting. I was close to going out."

It was the first slalom victory by a Swiss man since Paul Accola won in 1991 in Breckenridge en route to capturing the World Cup overall title.

"In Switzerland, the people say we don't have the mentality for slalom racing," the beaming Plaschy said. "We are a little bit stupid maybe. We don't have, as you Americans say it, this fighting spirit in the slalom.

"But I always wanted to prove that we could do this, too. And today, eight years after Paul Accola's win, I make the same victory. My first victory, and I'm so happy."

Stangassinger, who won last season's World Cup slalom title, finished in 1:25.68 - .99 seconds behind.

"The course was chattered up in the second run," Stangassinger said. "So many racers are using shorter skis. They can be more aggressive, but it chews up the course."

He called his result encouraging. "We've gone a long time without a race. I know at this time I can ski fast, and that's very important for me for the rest of the season."

Italy's Matteo Nana and Norway's Kjetil Andre Aamodt tied for third in 1:25.79.

Raich lost an edge and fell onto his hip, failing to finish his second run.

Norway's Hans-Petter Buraas, who stood 24th and 1.92 seconds off the pace after the first run, had a blistering second heat, the fastest of the afternoon, to post a combined time of 1:26.11. It withstood challenges from the next 18 skiers, competing in inverse order, until Aamodt finally dislodged him. Buraas wound up fifth.

Finland's Mika Marila was sixth in 1:26.20, Germany's Markus Eberle was seventh in 1:26.27, and France's Sebastien Amiez took eighth in 1:26.48. Iceland's Kristinn Bjornsson had the second-fastest second run to finish ninth in 1:26.56. Slovenia's Matjaz Vrhovnik was 10th in 1:26.58.

Plaschy said his victory also was vindication for a decision he made several years ago - to remain in ski racing instead of, as many Swiss do, begin lifelong careers.

About 20 residents of his tiny hometown of Varen contributed money to support Plaschy and keep him racing on the World Cup circuit.

"This wasn't a victory only for myself, but also for the whole village and my whole fan club," he said.

Lasse Kjus, the defending World Cup overall champion who also captured five medals in the world championships here, appeared to have straddled a gate on his first run. A videotape review showed he made the gate, but Kjus failed to qualify among the top 30 skiers for the second run.

No North Americans were among the second-run qualifiers. The top American was Erik Schlopy of Park City, Utah, who finished in 42nd place, 2.69 seconds behind the leader.

Tuesday Results from the men's World Cup slalom:

1. Didier Plaschy, Switzerland, 1 minute, 24.69 seconds.2. Thomas Stangassinger, Austria, 1:25.68.3. Matteo Nana, Italy, 1:25.79.(tie) Kjetil Andre Aamodt, Norway, 1:25.79.5. Hans-Petter Buraas, Norway, 1:26.11.6. Mika Marila, Finland, 1:26.20.7. Markus Eberle, Germany, 1:26.27.8. Sebastien Amiez, France, 1:26.48.9. Kristinn Bjornsson, Iceland, 1:26.56.10. Matjaz Vrhovnik, Slovenia, 1:26.58.11. Kalle Palander, Finland, 1:26.59.(tie) Christian Mayer, Austria, 1:26.59.13. Rainer Schoenfelder, Austria, 1:26.61.14. Paul Accola, Switzerland, 1:26.68.15. Michael Walchhofer, Austria, 1:26.75.16. Jure Kosir, Slovenia, 1:26.80.17. Joel Chenal, France, 1:26.84.18. Tom Stiansen, Norway, 1:26.90.19. Mitja Valencic, Slovenia, 1:26.91.20. Finn Christian Jagge, Norway, 1:26.94.21. Andrej Miklavc, Slovenia, 1:27.04.22. Killian Albrecht, Austria, 1:27.10.23. Marco Casanova, Switzerland, 1:27.24.24. Richard Gravier, France, 1:27.33.25. Drago Grubelnik, Slovenia, 1:27.34.26. Urs Imboden, Switzerland, 1:27.44.27. Michael Von Gruenigen, Switzerland, 1:28.17.Benjamin Raich, Austria; Fabrizio Tescari, Italy; and Florian Eckert, Germany, did not finish the second run.Erik Schlopy, United States; Drew Thorne Thomsen, United States; Andy Leroy, United States; and Jean-Philippe Roy, Canada, did not qualify for the second run.Bode Miller, United States; Sacha Gross, United States; and Chip Knight, United States, dd not finish the first run.

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Slalom Standings (After 1 Race)

1. Plaschy, 100 points.2. Stangassinger, 80.3. (tie) Nana and Aamodt, 60.5. Buraas, 45.6. Marila, 40.7. Eberle, 36.8. Amiez, 32.9. Bjornsson, 29.10. Vrhovnik, 26.11. Mayer, 24.(tie) Pallander, 24.13. Schoenfelder, 20.14. Accola, 18.15. Walchhofer, 16.---Overall Standings (After 3 Events)

1. Aamodt, 120 points.2. Hermann Maier, Austria, 100.(tie) Plaschy, 100.4. Von Gruenigen, 84.5. Stangassinger, 80.6. Nana, 68.7. Mayer, 64.8. Stephan Eberharter, Austria, 60.9. Eberle, 48.10. Buraas, 45.(tie) Raich, 45.12. Chenal, 40.(tie) Marila, 40.14. Amiez, 37.15. Patrick Holzer, Italy, 36.(tie) Schoenfelder, 36.Also32. Miller, 12.