Cuche leads Kitz trainer, Ganong in crash

At Kitzbuehel Wednesday (Jan. 18) it was the defending race champion Didier Cuche as fastest down the second of three training runs three tenths ahead of a tie for second.

With a picture perfect blue sky day and colder temperatures helping the track to harden up Klaus Kroell and Johan Clarey tied for second with Dom Paris in fourth and Hannes Reichelt fifth.

American Bode Miller faded well back in the pack to 20th taking a relaxed run down the historic Streif track.

As the first American racer down he hopped on the team wavelength and sent up a course report: “Speeds are a little bit higher today, but the track is running as inspected. You can hammer it boys.”

Andrew Weibrecht hammered enough to finish one place ahead of Miller in 19th, Erik Fisher was 22nd, Wiley Maple 40th and Ted Ligety 53rd. Marco Sullivan was DQ’d and Travis Ganong took a nasty tumble.

“I felt pretty relaxed, which is pretty funny considering I was sliding down the Zeilschuss backwards and upside down,” Ganong said. Though he is likely to be sore tomorrow, he appeared none the worse for the crash.

Also crashing, and tearing up his speed suit, was Ivica Kostelic. Though he skied down, the suit was torn at his lower back, an area that has given him trouble in the past.

Weibrecht said it was the first time all season he had felt comfortable on the downhill skis.

Erik Guay led the North American charge in seventh with fellow Canadian Robbie Dixon 16th, Ben Thomsen 34th and Jan Hudec 37th.

With a forecast for a 90percent of rain and snow overnight and throughout the day tomorrow the outlook for the third training run does not look good.

Image of Didier Cuche at start, by Gepa