Vidal seals Kitzbuehel slalom win

Vidal slumped to ground after seeing his time on the screens

Olympic champion Jean-Pierre Vidal secured his first World Cup win in five years when he won the slalom event in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

The Frenchman crossed in one minute, 38.88 seconds with Austrian Reinfred Herbst 0.36 seconds back in second.

Overall World Cup leader Benjamin Raich was 0.50 seconds down in third which, combined with his downhill time, earned the Austrian the combined title.

Italy's overall slalom leader Giorgio Rocca failed to finish the course.

American Ted Ligety finished sixth, while Austria's Michael Walchhofer, who won the previous day's downhill, put himself out of contention by straddling a gate.

Vidal's only previous World Cup victory took place in the run-up to the 2001 Olympic Games, in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.

He said: "It's magic. It's always been my dream to win here especially as my uncle Jean-Noel Augert was the last Frenchman to have won a slalom in Kitzbuehel."

Augert's victory took place 33 years ago, in 1973.

"I knew I had the means to win a race this season," Vidal added.

"I came close in Adelboden and even closer in Wengen when I was in front of Rocca and made a big mistake.

"It's hard to realise what it means to win here, especially after all the injuries and doubts I had after the (Salt Lake City) Olympics.

"I am very proud. To be Olympic champion and win in Kitzbuehel, what more do you need in a career?"

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Leading men's World Cup slalom results from Kitzbuehel:
1 Jean-Pierre Vidal (Fra) 1minute 38.88secs
2 Reinfried Herbst (Aut) 1:39.24
3 Benjamin Raich (Aut) 1:39.38
4 Stephane Tissot (Fra) 1:39.64
5 Rainer Schoenfelder (Aut) 1:39.92
6 Ted Ligety (US) 1:40.15
7 Kalle Palander (Fin) 1:40.17
8 Thomas Grandi (Can) 1:40.18
9 Markus Larsson (Swe) 1:40.25
10 J Grange (Fra) 1:40.31

Leading World Cup combination standings:
1 Benjamin Raich (Aut) 245 points
2 Michael Walchhofer (Aut) 150
3 Peter Fill (It) 142
4 Bode Miller (US) 140
5 Kjetil Andre Aamodt (Nor) 130

Leading overall World Cup standings:
1 Benjamin Raich (Aut) 892 points
2 Michael Walchhofer (Aut) 704
3 Daron Rahlves (US) 689
4 Bode Miller (US) 688
5 Aksel Lund Svindal (Nor) 612