Hirscher wins after Kristoffersen snowball drama

SCHLADMING, Austria: Home favourite Marcel Hirscher produced a blistering second run to pip Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen to victory in Tuesday’s World Cup night slalom race at Schladming.

The race was marred, though, when home fans threw snowballs at Kristoffersen during his final run.The 23-year-old avoided all the projectiles, but was understandably angry after his run.

“It really pissed me off, it’s a lack of respect, especially as I love Austria and Schladming is a bit of a home race for me,” said the 23-year-old, who lives in the Salzburg region.Hirscher added: “It’s happened to me before, it’s not great.”

Austrian Hirscher led by just two tenths of a second after the opening run and stormed to the quickest second effort of the evening to win by 0.39 seconds.The 28-year-old, who is bidding for a seventh consecutive overall World Cup crown, extended his lead at the top of the overall standings to 174 points from Kristoffersen.

The Norwegian had beaten Hirscher in Kitzbuehel on Sunday, but he responded in style to the delight of a large crowd.The 54th win of his World Cup career draws Hirscher level with Austrian great Hermann Maier in second place on the men’s all-time list, behind only Ingemar Stenmark’s mark of 86 victories.