Premier succès en coupe du monde pour Hudec .
On avait raison de se méfier du vice-champion du monde de descente 2007 , déjà très à l'aise lors des entrainements , il a récidivé aujourd'hui lors de cette descente de Lake Louise . Jan Hudec ( photo ) remporte le premier succès de sa carrière .
Les conditions atmosphériques très changeantes ont sans doute été favorable au descendeur canadien , mais cela fait partie du ski , Hudec a mérité sa victoire , il a su apprivoiser les pièges de cette piste en réalisant notamment une seconde partie de course de toute beauté .
L'américain Marco Sullivan prend une innatendue seconde place , parti lui aussi avec un petit dossard , il a béneficié de bonnes conditions et il a en a superbement profité . Andreas Buder complète ce podium très surprenant . Buder s'est élancé avec le dossard 29 qui correspond au moment ou le ciel c'est de nouveau éclairci car il faut bien reconnaitre que tous les descendeurs partis entre le dossard 10 et 28 ont du faire face à des rafales de vent et un jour blanc bien handicapant .
Sulzenbacher , Grünenfelder , Heel et Kucera occupent les places d'honneur juste devant le français Adrien Théaux qui réalise l'exploit avec sa 8eme place à 0.60 sec du gagnant Hudec . Streitberger et Gruber complètent cet incroyable top10 .
Le classement final : ICI
Les réactions : source : www.winterstartworldcup.com
HUDEC, Jan (CAN) – 1st place
“At the World Championships no one was expecting anything from me after my injuries and some poor results, except myself. To come back, and have the fastest run today, I am just humbled to be amongst athletes like Erik Guay, Bode Miller, Hermann Maier.” “Any one could have won today, and to do it in front of friends and family makes it so much better.” “I didn’t know I had a winning run. This was the most difficult race in Lake Louise ever, with the bumps and wind. It was challenging for each one of us. I knew my run was good but I had to wait 25 more racers, it was impossible to know for sure.”
“It is nerve racking waiting for so long to find out if I won, anyone can bump you out. It is a waiting game but was that much sweeter when you do win.” “I can’t wait to start with the different group in Beaver Creek.” “The downhill scares me, the Super-G is my favourite race o the circuit. “
SULLIVAN, Marco (USA) 2nd place –
“I ran early with Jan, the light was bad and it was windy but I think the wind was advantageous for me.”“It was a tough race, need to have faith in your equipment and the ground even though you can’t see it. I was able to do that today.” “This is great to start off the year and it my first career podium. I have high expectations of the whole season.” “I am going home to Beaver Creek next week so the US team is really fired up for that.”
“I was competing with my teammates for a spot in tomorrow’s super-G so I think I will get to race now. I will be charging even though I start way back in the pack.” “This result is long overdue. I have battled for a long time for this and am glad to be back on track and healthy for the season.”
BUDER, Andreas (AUT) 3rd place –
“My first podium was in Garmisch two years ago and I also started late. So I told my service man that it was time to podium again today.” “It was one of the hardest races today. The conditions were very tough.” “I struggled in the second training yesterday so we made some boot changes and they were obviously good.”
“I was fast in training through the summer and so I had expectations for the podium. I am very happy I did it today. “I did not have a podium feeling on the course. It was a big fight from the start to the finish.” “I had very fast skis and was very fast through the finish.” “I like to ski in Lake Louise because it is difficult to win here. It makes this downhill very tricky. Lake Louise is a wonderful place and I like to race here.” “Hudec’s win was no surprise for me. He had a low start number and has been fast in training.”
KUCERA, John (CAN) 7th place –
“It felt amazing today. I knew I had to ski aggressively, leave it out on the hill with no regrets.” “This result is a good confidence booster for tomorrow. I am excited for the super-G.” “This is a great day for Jan, his win is very well deserved after coming back from two knee surgeries.” “This is a great kick off to the season and proves that last season’s success was not just a one time thing.”
WALCHHOFER, Michael (AUT) 14th place
“I didn’t feel too bad today but the course conditions were challenging.”
MAIER, Hermann (AUS) 16th place
“The slope is in great shape this year.” “The first race is always a test to see where I am at.” “Jan had great success at the World Championships but to win here in downhill is great!”
CUCHE, Didier (SUI) 17th place (3-way tie)
“We put a cross on this race.”“It is difficult to win starting last. The conditions were not easy.” “It is nice to see new blood on the podium. It is always exciting when many skiers can win. I am happy for Jan.”
MILLER, Bode (USA) 20th place
“Almost no ski racer is as good as they think they are. We are a group of guys known for our self confidence.”
Jan Hudec’s Dad
“This is a fantastic feeling. We have believed in this moment for so long. It is a dream come true!”
