26 january 2008 - Another hit for Renè Stoessel, another too for Alessandra Merlin San Martino di Castrozza (TN), january 27 - It seams to be Renè Stoessel's lucky slope, the Tognola Uno, he gained the European title another time after the first in 2006. A perfect final run left his friend Ivan Eggenberger with a 0,52 pts difference, enourmous for a carving competition. Only Bronze for Thomas Bergamelli, winner both of yesterday's qualifying and the semifinal run. It was probably in the first part of the course that he lost the points he would have needed to go on the highest step of the podium today. Even worse the 4th place of Gianluca Grigoletto - fifth Marco De Martin and finally 6th the Cupleader Roberto Boselli, who keeps nonetheless the red leader bib. Far away already in the general ranking Alessandra Merlin (this was her third victory), but she had to fear more than usual, as the Slovenian Ana Teuc, conquered silver with what was probably the best run of her carreer. Bronze medal for the colourless run of the swiss Melanie Buergener, who has to thank only Francesca Deambrogio's mistake on the last jump. Francesca though gained the second place in the special U21 ranking, behind the brilliant Ana Teuc and third the swiss Jeanette Arnold. All Slovenijan the mens' podium: Gasper Grgincic, then Jernej Hvala and third Miha Groselj. In the team's ranking the victory went to the Stoeckli of Stoessel and Eggenberger, happy come back also for Texcart and third position for the winner team of Monte Bondone, the CTI-Columbia. Roberto Boselli remains leader of the general ranking with 240 pts, second Eggenberger (184 pts) and third Stoessel with 160. Merlin always on top with 300 pts, second Buergener with 220 pts and third Ana Teuc with 180. The next venue is scheduled for the next weekend in Airolo (SUI), afterwords everybody is moving to Kranjska Gora in Slovenia. The return to Italy is programmed for February 23/24, at Roccaraso. The European Challenge in San Martino will be broadcasted on SkySport3 on Tuesday at 8.30 pm and then repeated during the week. FINAL RANKING WOMEN 1. Alessandra Merlin ITA 48,00 GOLD MEDAL 2. Ana Teuc SLO 48,49 SILVER MEDAL 3. Melanie Bürgener SUI 48,63 BRONZE MEDAL 4. Francesca De Ambrogio ITA 50,57 5. Tina Vrhunc SLO 51,01 6. Vanja Celigoj SLO 7. Jeanette Arnold SUI 8. Magdalena Soltys POL 9. Spela Turk SLO 10. Joanna Modrzewska POL FINAL RANKING MEN 1. Renè Stössel SUI 44,05 GOLD MEDAL 2. Ivan Eggenberger SUI 44,58 SILVER MEDAL 3. Thomas Bergamelli ITA 44,71 BRONZE MEDAL 4. Gianluca Grigoletto ITA 44,88 5. Marco De Martin ITA 45,32 6. Roberto Boselli ITA 45,40 7. Aaron Nider ITA 45,47 8. Bostjan Groselj SLO 45,55 9. Matteo Vatua ITA 45,58 10. Zyamunt Fiedor POL 47,32

Super manche for the swiss Renè Stössel Gold Medal, second Ivan Eggenberger. Bronze for Thomas Bergamelli, only "wood" for Grigoletto. Roberto Boselli still leader

Merlin "carves" towards her European Gold Medal, second Ana Teuc, third Melanie Bürgener