Bode Miller 6th, Erik Scholopy 13th
February 20th, 2006
By Getty Images
SESTRIERE, Italy (Feb. 20) - Bode Miller (Bretton Woods, NH) was the top American finisher in sixth, while three-time Olympian Erik Schlopy (Park City, UT) placed 13th in Monday's Olympic giant slalom. Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) and Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, CA) skied out on their first runs as Austrian Benjamin Raich won the gold medal.
Considered a favorite to win the GS, Raich didn't disappoint and topped the field with a two-run combined time of 2:35.00. France's Joel Chenal took silver in 2:35.07 and Austrian Hermann Maier picked up the bronze in 2:35.16.
Miller, the '02 double silver medalist in GS and combined, moved up six spots from 12th after the first run and tied Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal for sixth place with a time of 2:36.06. Schlopy also posted a better second pass as he went from 17th to 13th.
For Schlopy, it was his best career Olympic finish. In Park City in 2002, he was 14th in slalom and did not start his second GS run. At the '94 Lillehammer Games, he placed 34th in the GS.
The GS was Miller's fourth event of the '06 Games. He placed fifth in the downhill to lead the American contingent, was disqualified for straddling a gate in the combined and did not finish his super G run.
The Austrian team has taken gold in the GS for the past three Olympics as Stefan Eberharter won in '02 and Maier was victorious in '98. It was Raich's first medal of these Games. He was 21st in the super G and did not finish his second slalom run of the combined.
Canadian Francois Bourque laid down the fastest first run in 1:16.61, but ended up finishing fourth. Raich was in fifth behind Bourque, Chenal, Nyberg and Maier going into his second run.
Ligety and Rahlves were among 34 racers that did not finish their first runs.
"It's very hard to swallow, knowing this is the last time I'll be in an event like this," said Rahlves, 32, who is competing in his third Olympics. "Overall, I think it's been a great year for me, but it just didn't happen here. It's disappointing to be at three Olympics and not have a medal."
Rahlves, who has three wins and six podiums on the World Cup circuit this season, placed 9th in the super G and 10th in the downhill at these Olympics.
"This is the Olympics, the whole world's watching," said Rahlves. "I had a chance to showcase our sport and I feel like I didn't step up."
Ligety, an Olympic rookie, owns one of four gold medals won by U.S. skiers and snowboarders at the Torino Games as he was the combined winner.
"My GS is not that strong yet that I can afford to be so aggressive," said Ligety. "I just went too direct and went out. It's definitely difficult conditions for sure. It's not an easy race today."
Only four skiers DNF'ed in run two.
The first run was originally scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m., but was postponed for an hour so course crews could finish preparing as heavy snow on Sunday left plenty of powder on the course.
The final men's alpine event of the Olympics is the slalom, which is scheduled for Sat., Feb. 25 in Sestriere.
XX OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Sestriere, ITA - Feb. 20
Men's Giant Slalom
1. Benjamin Raich, Austria, 2:35.00
2. Joel Chenal, France, 2:35.07
3. Hermann Maier, Austria, 2:35.16
4. Francois Bourque, Canada, 2:35.92
5. Fredrik Nyberg, Sweden, 2:36.05
--
T6. Bode Miller, Bretton Woods, N.H., 2:36.06
13. Erik Schlopy, Park City, Utah, 2:37.56
--
Did not finish first run:
Ted Ligety, Park City, Utah
Daron Rahlves, Sugar Bowl, Calif.
