Alberto Tomba wasn't thrilled about the low-key atmosphere. He didn't like the snow too much, either. He had no complaints, however, about the man who succeeded him as slalom king.
Sebastien Amiez stripped the sport's biggest star of his last title when he became the first Frenchman to win the World Cup slalom crown since 1972.Amiez was born later that year, after Jean-Noel Augert's triumph.
"It was right for him to win the cup because he is such a good skier. Maybe Amiez could be the new Tomba in the future," Tomba praised the new champion.
Amiez, the first-run leader, finished second in the last slalom and the final race of the season, and that was enough to give him the title. Thomas Sykora scored his second World Cup victory by charging from behind to win on the Olympic course.
Tomba lost the chance to hold onto his last title when he blew a good first run, when he shared second spot with Sykora, with a disastrous, 16th-fastest second heat.
That put him in fourth place, behind Jure Kosir of Slovenia.
"It's not possible to run on this course. The snow is not good for the late skiers," said the Italian superstar, who had to start 22nd, next to last, in the second run.
Tomba also complained about the low-key atmosphere at the season-ending event, saying: "It was a horrible final because of the atmosphere . . . it was very different from the Olympics."
"La Bomba" took the silver medal on the same course at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics.
Tomba's main goal of the season was to do well at last month's World Championships in Sierra Nevada, Spain, and he achieved it by sweeping golds in the slalom and giant slalom. With his three Olympic golds and two silvers, Tomba is the most decorated Alpine skier.
"I am very tired now. It's a terrible life. There is a lot of stress and it's not possible for me to live the life of a normal 29-year-old," Tomba complained.
"I want to stop for three months now. I don't want to think anything about skiing for three months. Later, probably in July, I'll decide about my future."
There has been speculation that Tomba might retire, but he said it was possible that he will be around at next year's World Championships, which will be held in his hometown, Sestriere.