Germany and Slovakia make their mark in Pitztal
05.12.2012
In the first IPC Alpine Skiing Europa Cup race of the season in Pitztal, Austria, Germany picked up three golds and Slovakia two.
The IPC Alpine Skiing Europa Cup finally got off to a start in Pitztal, Austria, on Wednesday (5 December) after Tuesday’s races were cancelled due to bad weather.
Racers had a shortened day on the slopes, however, with only one giant slalom event.
Germany’s Anna Schaffelhuber, who dominated the Alpine Skiing Europa Cup in the sitting event last season, came in first in 2:40.15. Her teammate Anna-Lena Forster took bronze in 2:59.38, just edged out by Great Britain’s Anna Turney who finished second in 2:56.27.
"Pleased with today's silver at #europacup #goldnext," Turney tweeted from @SkiRaceAnna
It was also a day for Austria’s Markus Salcher to reassert his dominance in the men’s standing event. He finished in a winning time of 2:29.17. Russia’s Alexey Bugaev was just one second behind (2:30.24), beating Germany’s Luca Christian Tauscher (2:30.57).
The men’s visually impaired race was a Slovakian affair. Jakub Krako who had topped the Europa Cup last season, came in second with guide Martin Matoyka in 2:33.45. His teammate Radomir Dudas was two seconds ahead to take gold (2:31.44) with guide Maros Hudik. Bronze went to Michal Beladic and guide Filip Svidron (2:34.28).
Slovakia’s Henrieta Farkasova guided by Branislav Mazgut dominated the women’s visually impaired race, finishing in 2:43.11. Great Britain’s Kelly Gallagher with guide Charlotte Evans came in seven seconds behind (2:50.24) in second and Poland’s Anna Kosinska guided by Dariusz Rutkowski took bronze (3:19.27).
With Geramny’s Andrea Rothfuss’ main rivals in giant slalom – Italy’s Melania Corradini and Austria’s Danja Haslacher – not at the competition, the 21-year-old dominated the event, finishing in 2:33.61. Slovakia’s Petra Smarzova took silver in 2:42.89 and Russia’s Mariya Papulova was third (2:46.85).
After Germany’s Franz Hanfstingl, who dominated last season’s Europa Cup giant slalom, crashed out of the second run, the door was open for his teammate Thomas Nolte to take gold in 2:32.07. The Netherlands’ Kees-Jan van der Klooster won silver (2:37.26) and Austria’s Reinhold Sampl was close behind with bronze (2:37.51).
Racing continues on Thursday (6 December).