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| FIS Alpine Ski World Cup 2001/02
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| Flachau(AUT) Men's 9th Slalom. 09,Mar,2002
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| Ivica Kostelic did it! Two weeks after missing an almost guaranteed Olympic medal at Deer Valley, Ivica Kostelic crowned his season in winning the slalom World Cup title at Flachau where he also celebrated his third season's victory in one of the most dramatic race of the decade. The 22-year-old racer from Zagreb perfectly handled the pressure put on his shoulders by his toughest rival, America's Bode Miller who achieved once more an impressive comeback in the second run after losing much ground on him in the first leg. At the end of the day and after a superb second run, Kostelic beat Miller by 23/100 of a second while France's Jean-Pierre Vidal, the reigning Olympic Champion was a happy 3rd at 1,08 seconds. Austria’s Killan Albrecht came in 4th ahead of the Olympic silver medallist Sebastien Amiez. Ivica won the slalom standings with 661 points, 51 more than Miller and 155 more than Vidal. Ironically, none of them belonged to the group of favorites at the season start in Aspen - Kostelic, who won the first slalom with the start-number 64, was coming back from a series of injuries as well as Vidal, while Miller couldn't score a single World Cup point in the past two seasons! The American, an impressive winner in the last World Cup slalom at Schladming, produced once more an exciting show in the afternoon after making a mistake in the morning. He only clocked the eighth best time - 1,35 second behind Ivica - and his chances to challenge Kostelic until the end for the World Cup title seemed quite slim at that point. Yet, the champion from New Hampshire proved again that you can't count him out as long as he remains on his feet. Taking all risks in his second run, Miller propelled himself back in the lead of the standings where he remained until the arrival of Kostelic. Ivica was cool The Croatian faced the situation with impressive coolness - he skied again with great determination and saved a small part of his advance on the finish line. He showed his emotion in dancing around the finish area and kissing the snow in front of some of his numerous fans who came to support him and Janica at Flachau. “I will remember this day as one of the best in my life, it was amazing” he said with a great smile. “It was perfect, the way ski racing should be. I was alone at the start of the second run, knowing that Miller had a strong lead and that I had no other choice to attack to be sure to keep the lead in the slalom standings. I was very exciting and I gave my best to defend my chances. I'm quite proud to have well managed this tense situation and finally won that race and the slalom Cup”. “This slalom title is very important for me of course - but I'm also so happy to be healthy, which didn't happen to me since 1997. I have always been seriously injured in the past five seasons. My body is not used to be in such a good shape. Normally I'm in hospital or doing some re-education at the end of the winter. I'm very glad to be able to train normally next spring and built up my form. I still believe to improve my level, especially in giant slalom. Next season I may also compete in some Super-G and eventually in the combined at St Moritz. Downhill used to be my best event”. Bode was also pleased Bode Miller was a gracious loser after the race. “I have done my best today but Ivica was just too good” he said. “I'm not surprised at all because he showed more than once that he is an excellent skier with very strong nerves. I had some problems in my first run but the second one was quite perfect - comparable to my second run in the combined slalom at Snowbasin”. “I'm more that pleased by my season, I have reached much more than I expected this winter. It has been quite exciting I must say. I have learned a lot ? also admiring other skiers such as Stephan Eberharter who has achieved an amazing season. He is a great champion and a superb Overall World Cup champion. He has scored so many top-3 results in three events this winter. I hope to become a top contender in future but I need to become more consistent in the technical events and to improve my Super-G and my downhill. But I still have time”. Vidal was proud Great satisfaction also for Jean Pierre Vidal, very proud to confirm quite immediately his recent Olympic triumph. “I was aiming to get on the podium today and end the season among the best-3 in the slalom standings” he explained. “I reached this goal. My season has been fantastic, I still have a hard time to believe what happened to me. I'm quite excited when I look forward for the coming season. There is still space for improvements! In two weeks I will take part at the French Championships then my friends are organizing a great party for me at home on March 29th. It will be fun”. Vidal, Kostelic and Miller will try again to be fighting for top position in Sunday's giant slalom, the last men's World Cup race of the season. Five skiers can still hope to capture the GS title - Frederic Covili, the leader, Switzerland's Didier Cuche, Austria's Stephan Eberharter and his teammate Benjamin Raich as Sweden's Fredrik Nyberg. Patrick Lang |
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