World Cup Difficulty 2000, final leg at Kranj

On 17-18/11 the final leg of the World Cup Difficulty 2000 takes place in Kranj, Slovenia

PlanetMountain.com

November 2000

Traduci in

Dino Lagni at Nantes. The Italian is currently placed fourth behind Maxim Petrenko.
(photo L. Di Marino)

Jenny Lavarda, currently eigth, competitng at Nantes.
(photo L. Di Marino)

And so the World Cup Difficulty 2000 comes to a close this weekend in Kranj, Slovenia. This fifth and final event is the athletes' last opportunity to demonstrate their form, consolidate their positions or perhaps even finish off the season in style.

Yuji Hirayama will be out to reap his just rewards: after his 1st place in Nantes, his second World Cup victory is well within his grasp. This year's revelation, the 18 year-old European Champion Alexandre Chabot, is the only realistic contender, but he trails by 32 points and these will be hard to beat, especially seeing Hirayama's form and consistency.

The Ukrainian Maxim Petrenko is currently placed third, but just one point separates him from the World Champion Dino Lagni, winner at Chamonix at the start of the season. The fight for third place will no doubt be intense, especially since the Frenchman Paul Dewilde is on great form, as is Cristian Brenna, who hasn't missed a Final yet.

In the women's event, all eyes will be on the Frenchwoman Liv Sansoz and the Belgian Muriel Sarkany. Sansoz leads by 35 points after Nantes, but one never knows what twists this thriller may take. Stéphanie Bodet follows in third place and will defend this position against Martina Cufar, placed fifth but competing on home ground. Mi-Sun Go, Chloè Minoret, Annatina Schultz, and Jenny Lavarda are placed 5th-8th, separated by only 14 points. Not to be underestimated is Katrin Sedlmayer, current European Champion and climbing fantastically well.

With all these things to look out for, Kranj should prove to be a fitting final to an exciting season.