Marcel Hirscher wins World Cup giant slalom title

[March 17, 2012]  SCHLADMING, Austria (AP) -- Marcel Hirscher won the World Cup giant slalom title Saturday after Ted Ligety of the United States skied off course in the opening run of the season-ending race.

Ligety, who won three GS titles in the past four seasons, trailed Hirscher by 92 points and, with a victory worth 100 points, had to win the race to stand a chance of overtaking the Austrian.

Ligety led by 0.43 seconds at the final intermediate time but skied off and had to hike back up the hill to complete his run, finishing 11.16 seconds off the lead.

"There was only one option today -- winning or going home," Ligety said. "I tried everything so I can't blame myself."

Ligety won two GS races and led the standings early in the season, but had since been playing catch-up with Hirscher. Ligety added a third victory last weekend in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, to retain his slim chance.

"With the season he's had, he deserved to win the globe," the American said of Hirscher. "For me it was a good year, it's just that someone else was better."

Hirscher won three GS races and eight events in total this season and is also in contention for the overall and slalom titles, which will be decided Sunday.

"What happened to Ted could have happened to me as well," Hirscher said. "I have now reached my goal for the season -- to win a crystal globe. Let's see if I can take the next step as well."

Hirscher trails leader Beat Feuz of Switzerland by 75 points in the overall standings. Feuz was in 25th position after the opening run. Only the top 15 earn World Cup points.

Austria's Hannes Reichelt posted the fastest time of 1 minute, 10.99 seconds to lead Hirscher by 0.22 and Alexis Pinturault of France by 0.24.

[Associated Press; By ERIC WILLEMSEN]

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