Miller smokes single Kitzbuehel training run, Guay sits out with injury

By Published On: January 23rd, 2014Comments Off on Miller smokes single Kitzbuehel training run, Guay sits out with injury
Bode Miller in Kitzbuehel (GEPA/Wolfgang Grebien)

Bode Miller in Kitzbuehel (GEPA/Wolfgang Grebien)

The weather finally gave the Kitzbuehel organizers a bit of a break, and with a delay of just a few minutes due to fog, the final chance for a single training run was fruitful enough to ensure the Hahnenkamm will be anchored by the downhill.

Bode Miller has said all season he was looking forward to the more difficult course, and they don’t get any tougher than the Streif of Kitzbuehel and the legendary Hahnenkamm downhill. Charging from the start, Miller ripped the upper portion of the course and skied cleanly the entire length including a improvised section detouring racers from the traditional course just before the Hausberg jump to the top of the slalom hill before returning to the Streif for the Zielschuss and finish arena.

Miller said the conditions allowed him to cut off the line in several spots and quickly regain any lost speed, “without risking getting bounced around.” He put in the fastest time, nearly a full second (.96) ahead of tour leader Aksel Lund Svindal, with Hannes Reichelt in third. Also scoring impressively well was Travis Ganong in sixth place, the last starter before a more lengthy hold of ten or more minutes.

Miller noted that the tracks of skiers who ran before him indicated he had skied “a much higher line in the Steilhang. I exited the Steilhang much better than the tracks were. That makes a huge difference because you cut off line but you also carry speed onto the road. I think I had fast skis today, too. (Chris) Krause and I have been focused on this race all year. I put a lot of energy into being ready.”

The Canadian team, already rattled because of a back injury to Jan Hudec, announced even worse news just before the race as Erik Guay revealed that a knee injury sustained at Wengen would not allow him to start the only training run. He has therefore been eliminated from competing in the Hahnenkamm downhill on Saturday (Jan. 25), though the extent of the injury has yet to be disclosed.

Svindal was second and Hannes Richet third, though it should be noted neither appeared to ski with the aggression of Miller and both seemed to leave something in the tank. With a forecast for considerable overnight snow, the significance of the training run is diminished more than usual, but certainly Miller’s run will cause consternation for other nations while they study his line on video.

With a stunning run from well back in the pack, Andrew Weibrecht provided a bit of sizzle starting 64th and finishing 12th.

To see downhill training photos click here.

Results

Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Total Time Diff.
 1  13  532431 MILLER Bode 1977 USA  2:02.93
 2  17  421328 SVINDAL Aksel Lund 1982 NOR  2:03.89  +0.96
 3  10  50742 REICHELT Hannes 1980 AUT  2:05.28  +2.35
 4  39  561067 PERKO Rok 1985 SLO  2:05.30  +2.37
 5  15  293006 INNERHOFER Christof 1984 ITA  2:05.33  +2.40
 6  22  530874 GANONG Travis 1988 USA  2:05.47  +2.54
 7  36  511313 JANKA Carlo 1986 SUI  2:05.88  +2.95
 8  6  421483 JANSRUD Kjetil 1985 NOR  2:05.91  +2.98
 9  14  192746 THEAUX Adrien 1984 FRA  2:05.97  +3.04
 10  8  291459 PARIS Dominik 1989 ITA  2:06.14  +3.21
 10  2  510727 DEFAGO Didier 1977 SUI  2:06.14  +3.21
 12  64  530939 WEIBRECHT Andrew 1986 USA  2:06.20  +3.27
 13  9  191740 CLAREY Johan 1981 FRA  2:06.23  +3.30
 14  24  194190 ROGER Brice 1990 FRA  2:06.40  +3.47
 15  52  201606 KEPPLER Stephan 1983 GER  2:06.58  +3.65
 16  48  194167 MUZATON Maxence 1990 FRA  2:06.70  +3.77
 17  25  560447 SPORN Andrej 1981 SLO  2:06.82  +3.89
 18  20  53902 MAYER Matthias 1990 AUT  2:06.92  +3.99
 19  18  292514 HEEL Werner 1982 ITA  2:06.93  +4.00
 20  12  50753 KROELL Klaus 1980 AUT  2:07.16  +4.23
 21  42  380292 ZRNCIC-DIM Natko 1986 CRO  2:07.17  +4.24
 22  27  50858 STREITBERGER Georg 1981 AUT  2:07.20  +4.27
 23  11  511139 KUENG Patrick 1984 SUI  2:07.21  +4.28
 24  50  103385 PRIDY Conrad 1988 CAN  2:07.28  +4.35
 25  28  102899 OSBORNE-PARADIS Manuel 1984 CAN  2:07.32  +4.39
 26  29  533131 SULLIVAN Marco 1980 USA  2:07.36  +4.43
 27  1  192932 FAYED Guillermo 1985 FRA  2:07.42  +4.49
 28  56  294277 KLOTZ Siegmar 1987 ITA  2:07.44  +4.51
 29  19  511383 FEUZ Beat 1987 SUI  2:07.48  +4.55
 30  23  51327 PUCHNER Joachim 1987 AUT  2:07.54  +4.61
 31  45  53936 DUERAGER Markus 1990 AUT  2:07.57  +4.64
 32  33  202059 FERSTL Josef 1988 GER  2:07.58  +4.65
 33  26  533866 NYMAN Steven 1982 USA  2:07.73  +4.80
 34  7  53817 FRANZ Max 1989 AUT  2:07.74  +4.81
 35  44  54005 STRIEDINGER Otmar 1991 AUT  2:07.75  +4.82
 36  5  292455 FILL Peter 1982 ITA  2:07.76  +4.83
 37  51  501439 HEDIN Douglas 1990 SWE  2:07.82  +4.89
 37  30  51332 SCHEIBER Florian 1987 AUT  2:07.82  +4.89
 39  55  103271 THOMSEN Benjamin 1987 CAN  2:07.97  +5.04
 40  41  934643 GOLDBERG Jared 1991 USA  2:08.07  +5.14
 41  46  194542 GIRAUD MOINE Valentin 1992 FRA  2:08.11  +5.18
 42  3  51215 BAUMANN Romed 1986 AUT  2:08.15  +5.22
 43  63  511513 CAVIEZEL Mauro 1988 SUI  2:08.22  +5.29
 44  38  293550 MARSAGLIA Matteo 1985 ITA  2:08.27  +5.34
 45  66  990116 DE ALIPRANDINI Luca 1990 ITA  2:08.38  +5.45
 46  35  511352 VILETTA Sandro 1986 SUI  2:08.41  +5.48
 47  60  501076 OLSSON Hans 1984 SWE  2:08.83  +5.90
 48  58  422139 KILDE Aleksander Aamodt 1992 NOR  2:08.84  +5.91
 48  47  103612 PRIDY Morgan 1990 CAN  2:08.84  +5.91
 50  4  293141 VARETTONI Silvano 1984 ITA  2:08.90  +5.97
 51  37  534939 FISHER Erik 1985 USA  2:09.18  +6.25
 52  68  20267 ESTEVE Kevin 1989 AND  2:09.50  +6.57
 52  65  561255 CATER Martin 1992 SLO  2:09.50  +6.57
 54  53  193034 BOUILLOT Alexandre 1985 FRA  2:09.61  +6.68
 55  69  660021 DANILOCHKIN Yuri 1991 BLR  2:09.66  +6.73
 56  49  53837 KRAMER Manuel 1989 AUT  2:09.74  +6.81
 57  61  561217 KOSI Klemen 1991 SLO  2:09.95  +7.02
 58  21  191964 POISSON David 1982 FRA  2:10.23  +7.30
 59  62  100558 COOK Dustin 1989 CAN  2:10.36  +7.43
 60  34  103512 FRISCH Jeffrey 1984 CAN  2:10.89  +7.96
 61  54  510997 BERTHOD Marc 1983 SUI  2:12.18  +9.25
Did not start 1st run
 67  430429 BYDLINSKI Maciej 1988 POL
 59  6530319 COCHRAN-SIEGLE Ryan 1992 USA
 43  6530104 BENNETT Bryce 1992 USA
 40  934518 DANIELS Nick 1991 USA
 32  534562 LIGETY Ted 1984 USA
 31  380260 KOSTELIC Ivica 1979 CRO
 16  102263 GUAY Erik 1981 CAN
Did not finish 1st run
 57  102961 DIXON Robbie 1985 CAN

 

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About the Author: Hank McKee

In memoriam: The veteran of the staff, McKee started with Ski Racing in 1980. Over the seasons, he covered virtually every aspect of the sport, from the pro tours to junior racing, freestyle and World Cup alpine competition. He wrote the first national stories for many U.S. team stars, and was still around to report on their retirements. “Longevity has its rewards,” he said, “but it’s a slow process.”