Sarkany Back on Top
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With only two World Cup competitions remaining in the 2004 season, Belgium’s Muriel Sarkany has regained the lead in the overall standings with a superb victory in Valence, France. Sarkany onsighted the finals route on Oct. 30, leaving her main rival, Angela Eiter of Austria, in fifth place. Eiter had moved to the top of the standings just last week, and it seems likely the race will come down to the wire for these two. Amercians Lizzy and Alexis Asher, meanwhile, finished 30th and 43rd. Alex Chabot of France, winner of the 2002 and 2003 overall World Cup titles, seems to be regaining his form after struggling a bit earlier this season. Chabot has won the last two World Cup comps, including Valence, but he will have to win decisively in this year’s final two competitions to catch the Czech Tomás Mrázek, who finished third in France. An unusually large group of four American men competed at Valence, with Vadim Vinokur leading the team at 17th. Men 1. Alex Chabot (FRA) 2. Christian Bindhammer (GER) 3. Tomás Mrázek (CZE) 4. Michaël Fuselier (FRA) 5. François Auclair (FRA) 17. Vadim Vinokur (USA) 38. Cody Roth (USA) 39. Ethan Pringle (USA) 42. Dave Holodiloff (USA) Women 1. Muriel Sarkany (BEL) 2. Martina Cufar (SLO) 3. Caroline Ciavaldini (FRA) 4. Jenny Lavarda (ITA) 5. Angela Eiter (AUT) 30. Lizzy Asher (USA) 43. Alexis Asher (USA)