Sunday January 11th, Chamonix.

For Britain's top alpine racers managing their expectations may be as much a part of the game as getting down the course as fast as possible as this weekend's crop of solid, points scoring results on the Audi FIS Ski World Cup proved not quite as sparkling as recent weeks.

" I don't think I can afford to grumble." Admitted Chemmy Alcott of her 'bad day' today when she posted a disappointing 32nd in the Super G in Veysonnaz, Switzerland. " If someone had asked me to sign a contract saying I would get six world cup results by this stage of the season in exchange for one bad day I would have signed it straight away without a second thought. Sure, I expect to have more like this one, but I am not too disappointed."

Alcott admitted later that she was put off slightly by her elevation into the top group as she started 4 on a soft, Spring like Super G course which proved to get faster.

" It was all a bit more sudden than I am used to and it was difficult only getting one course report with only one coach on the hill, but I did not ski my best."

She was much more pleased with her 22nd in Saturday's downhill, " Another 22nd is getting boring." She quipped, " but it's a result and I'm happy with it."

In Chamonix today Alain Baxter also struggled with the sudden change from the winter conditions to a premature, hopefully temporary dose of Spring. While Alcott even confessed to feeling it hard to warm up, so hot was she anyway in the mild weather, Baxter found it hard to ski the optimum line in the soft granular snow conditions and found himself braking much too often for the conditions.

With a 2.77 seconds deficit after the first run, the Scot gained an automatic advantage as he raced second down the second heat. Unfortunately there was no big attack and he was left ruing the missed opportunity, finishing in 27th. Scoring his third set of back-to-back World Cup points he now lies 25th on the World Cup Slalom rankings.

Ends

RESULTS

Women's FIS Audi World Cup Downhill, Veysonnaz (SUI), 10/1/04

      1     55069     GOETSCHL Renate            AUT      1:38.58     0.00
      2     55198     DORFMEISTER Michaela  AUT      1:39.07     6.71
      2     205117    GERG Hilde                        GER      1:39.07     6.71
      4     536138    CLARK Kirsten L               USA      1:39.17     8.08
      5     536473    LALIVE Caroline                USA      1:39.57     13.56
      6     55212     MEISSNITZER Alexandra   AUT      1:39.60     13.97
      22=   225206    ALCOTT Chimene            GBR      1:40.52     26.57

Women's FIS Audi World Cup Super G, Veysonnaz (SUI), 11/1/04

      1     205117    GERG Hilde                         GER      1:21.34     0.00
      2     55198     DORFMEISTER Michaela    AUT      1:21.58     2.89
      3     55539     BERGER Silvia                      AUT      1:22.10     9.16
      4     195671    JACQUEMOD Ingrid           FRA      1:22.14     9.64
      5     195374    MONTILLET Carole            FRA      1:22.35     12.17
      6     106056    SIMARD Genevieve             CAN      1:22.57     14.82
    32=   225206    ALCOTT Chimene                GBR      1:24.04     32.53
      
Men's FIS Audi World Cup Slalom, Chamonix, 11/1/04

    1     ROCCA Giorgio                                      ITA      44.33     44.76     1:29.09     0.00
    2     BOURGEAT Pierrick                              FRA      44.36     44.81     1:29.17     0.51
    3     MILLER Bode                                        USA      45.08     44.44     1:29.52     2.75
    4     SCHOENFELDER Rainer                      AUT      43.80     45.78     1:29.58     3.14
    5     VIDAL Jean-Pierre                                 FRA      45.57     44.25     1:29.82     4.67
    6     PRANGER Manfred                               AUT      44.00     45.83     1:29.83     4.73
    27    BAXTER Alain                                      GBR      46.64     44.73     1:31.37    14.59