Ted Ligety‘s struggles in his return from an ACL tear continued Saturday as he failed to finish a World Cup giant slalom in Val d’Isere, France.
Ligety, the Olympic and world giant slalom champion, skied out near the top of the course in his second run. That was after he tied for 21st place in his first run, uncharacteristic territory for the man known as Mr. GS.
“This [course] kind of feels like you’re getting punched in the crotch the entire way down.” Ligety said before the race, according to the U.S. Ski Team.
France’s Alexis Pinturault won the race by .33 of a second after two runs over Austrian Marcel Hirscher. Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen was third.
Ligety, who was fifth and 11th in his previous giant slaloms this fall, has now gone six straight World Cup giant slaloms without making the podium, his longest drought since the 2005-06 season.
His six straight giant slaloms without a win matches his longest drought since 2008.
Ligety, 32, skied last season after suffering three herniated disks in his back and tearing a hip labrum. The campaign ended prematurely when he tore his right ACL on Jan. 27.
Ligety has not said he’s dealing with any injuries this season.
The men race a slalom in Val d’Isere on Sunday.
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