Poutiainen gets dream start to FIS World Cup season and Olympic year

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Tanja Poutiainen got the best possible start to the new FIS Alpine World Cup season in Sölden on Saturday, with a win in the opening giant slalom, albeit by the narrowest of margins.
      Poutiainen, who was wearing the red bib of last season's giant slalom World Cup winner, came from 3rd place on her first run to take victory by one hundredth of a second from Austria's Kathrin Zettel, with the first-round leader Denise Karbon of Italy relegated to third place, 0.32 seconds behind the winner.
     
This was Poutiainen's ninth World Cup victory, and she has previously finished runner-up in Sölden on two occasions. In both years when she finished second in the opening race, she went on to produce her best seasons so far.
      Hence there was much discussion imediately after the race as to what it might mean in an Olympic year, with Vancouver in February in everyone's minds.
      Poutiainen, though obviously delighted that her good form had spilled over from one year to the next, was quick to dismiss any excessive excitement, admitting only that she was very relieved her summer training had obviously stood her in good stead for the coming season.
      Poutiainen already has a giant slalom silver medal from the Torino Olympics, to go alongside two silvers and two bronze medals (in slalom and giant slalom) from the World Championships in 2005 and 2009.
     
Finland's other competitor Sanni Leinonen, 20, suffered from a high start number.
      She went off 70th on a track that was breaking up, and could finish no better than 44th.
      In order to get into the top 30 and have a second run, she would have required a time roughly 1.5 seconds faster. Last year Leinonen managed to parlay a high number into 22nd place and World Cup points, but then conditions were easier for the later skiers.
     
On Sunday the men uncorked their season, also in Sölden.
      Veteran Didier Cuche of Switzerland "did a Poutiainen" by winning the first race while wearing the red bib of last year's giant slalom World Cup winner.
      The Finnish contingent were without Kalle Palander and Marcus Sandell, both recovering from injury, and the two Finnish skiers who did take part - Jukka Leino and 20-year-old Andreas Romar - both crashed out on their first run.
     


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Tanja Poutiainen wins a third crystal globe (16.3.2009)

Links:
  Tanja Poutiainen (Wikipedia)
  FIS - Alpine Skiing
  Tanja Poutiainen official site

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