Herbst claims final slalom before Winter Olympics

AUSTRIA'S Reinfried Herbst claimed slalom victory in the final men's skiing World Cup event before next month's Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

IN FORM: Reinfried Herbst will take a commanding points advantage into the final slalom of the World Cup season, after next month's Winter Olympics (Getty Images)

 

Herbst consolidated his lead in the overall slalom standings as he claimed his fourth win of the season in Kranjska Gora, clocking 1.45.35 across the two runs.

 Austria's Marcel Hirscher was the big mover after the first run as big-name rivals, including France's Julien Lizeroux and team-mates Manfred Pranger and overall World Cup leader Benjamin Raich failed to string together back-to-back runs.

 Hirscher moved from 15th - 1.36 seconds behind first run leader, Italy's Giuliano Razzoli - to finish second while Lizeroux, now 43 points behind Herbst in the overall slalom standings, completed the podium with one slalom remaining in the schedule after the Olympics.

"It's a nice feeling, it's my first podium here," said Herbst.

"It is the best possible way to prepare for the Olympics and I'm just looking forward to that now."

 Great Britain's Noel Baxter, who was not named in the alpine skiing team for the Winter Olympics this week, failed to complete his first run in Slovakia.