Shiga Kogen, Japan, Feb. 15, 2001--After a sub-par performance at the World Championships, Austrian Hermann Maier returned to the World Cup with avengeance Thursday, winning his fourth giant slalom of the season.
Maier led both runs to win with a time of 2:43.49. Liechtenstein's Marco Buechel was second in 2:45.23 and Austrian Benjamin Raich was third in 2:45.32.Austria's Heinz Schilchegger was fourth (2:45.48) and Finn Sami Uotila rounded out the top five finishers, posting a time of 2:45.56.
Erik Schlopy (Park City, UT), the lone American competitor, finished 21st with a time of 2:48.55.
Maier, who leads the overall World Cup standings, finished third in the super G and second in the downhill during the World Championships. Thursday,he recorded a first run time of 1:21.28, .98 faster than Uotila's second place time. Schlopy had a 1:24.41 in his first run.
The men will run slaloms Saturday and Sunday in Shiga Kogen.
FIS ALPINE WORLD CUP
Shiga Kogen, Japan
February 15, 2001
Men's Giant Slalom
1. Hermann Maier, Austria, 2:43.49
2. Marco Buechel, Liechtenstein, 2:45.23
3. Benjamin Raich, Austria, 2:45.32
4. Heinz Schilchegger, Austria, 2:45.48
5. Sami Uotila, Finland, 2:45.56
6. Massimiliano Blardone, Italy, 2:45.94
7. Kjetil Andre Aamodt, Norway, 2:46.05
8. Michael Von Gruenigen, Switzerland, 2:46.65
9. Joel Chenal, France, 2:46.67
10. Vincent Millet, France, 2:47.25
11. Mitja Kunc, Slovenia, 2:47.26
12. Bjarne Solbakken, Norway, 2:47.53
13. Christian Mayer, Austria, 2:47.60
14. Rainer Schoenfelder, Austria, 2:48.00
15. Urs Kaelin, Switzerland, 2:48.12
16. Didier Defago, Switzerland, 2:48.13
17. Lasse Paulsen, Norway, 2:48.37
18. Jeff Piccard, France, 2:48.46
19. Kenneth Sivertsen, Norway, 2:48.48
20. Jernej Koblar, Slovenia, 2:48.52
21. Erik Schlopy, Park City, Utah, 2:48.55
22. Alessandro Roberto, Italy, 2:48.69
23. Steve Locher, Switzerland, 2:49.12
24. Thomas Grandi, Canada, 2:49.27
25. Uros Pavlovcic, Slovenia, 2:49.62
26. Patrice Manuel, France, 2:49.82
27. Christophe Saioni, France, 2:50.73
