Marcel Hirscher imperious as Dave Ryding challenge fizzles out
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Updated 19/02/2017 at 13:53 GMT
Marcel Hirscher brought the curtain down on the Alpine World Ski Championships with a scintillating victory in the men’s slalom.
Second-placed Austria's Manuel Feller, winner Austria's Marcel Hirscher and third-placed Germany's Felix Neureuther
Image credit: AFP
The overwhelming pre-race favourite blew apart the field to win in 1:34.75 – his second title in St Moritz and his third consecutive double at the championships.
Only his fellow medallists could finish within a second, with compatriot Manuel Feller taking silver (+0.68s) and Germany’s Felix Neureuther snatching bronze (+0.93s).
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There was no joy for Great Britain as breakout star Dave Ryding, fourth after his opening run, slipped down the order to finish 11th.
The course was meant to favour the 30-year-old due to its complexity and icy surface, but he struggled for rhythm as his medal opportunity flashed by.
Even a flawless run would have struggled to dethrone Hirscher.
The 27-year-old appeared set to wrap up victory by over a second after gliding through the opening stages, but a wobble midway through sparked fears of an unlikely collapse.
However. Hirscher steadied to fly through the final sector’s ‘Royal Flush’ section – four poles tightly-packed on the slope – as he propelled Austria to the medal table summit with three gold, four silver and two bronze.
He told reporters:
It is perfect; the sun is shining and great conditions today. The skiing was pretty good as well and Austria is pretty stoked with another two podiums. Thank you for an amazing crowd, have a nice Sunday and a safe trip home. The young guns are kicking my ass in every training run so am I very thankful for this. It helps me make improvements in every training run.
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