Cristian Deville of Italy claimed an unexpected success in the men's World Cup slalom in Kitzbuehel on Sunday.
Italian clinches unexpected victory in Kitzbuehel
Cristian Deville of Italy claimed an unexpected success in the men's World Cup slalom in Kitzbuehel on Sunday.
Sitting fourth after the first run, Deville came storming through to emerge victorious in a time of one minute 39.19 seconds over the two legs.
First-run leader Mario Matt of Austria finished second just under three-quarters of a second adrift, with reigning World Cup overall and slalom champion Ivica Kostelic completing the podium a further 0.06sec back.
It was Deville's first triumph of the season following a runner-up finish in second in Beaver Creek and a third in Flachau.
"Madness, madness!" the delighted 31-year-old stated afterwards. "I wasn't in such good shape as at the start of the season in the last few races.
"The first run with bib number one, I didn't have an ideal run, but then in the second, it was incredible. From the first gate I had the right momentum and it was great, lots of risks but no mistakes, really fast."
Kostelic's third place saw him leapfrog Marcel Hirscher in the overall standings, the Croat now perched at the top with 755 points with the Austrian stuck on 725.
The Croatian also heads the slalom standings on 545pts, with Deville (370) overtaking Hirscher (360) into second thanks to his 100pts on Sunday.
