Val d'Isere: Miller wins final training as many sit out

Bode Miller claimed the final training run for the World Cup downhill at Val d'Isere, France while many of his chief rivals sat out the arduous course.
    Miller won handily with a .61 of a second lead over David Poisson of France and .74 ahead of Christof Gruber of Austria.
    A 34 man list of skiers chose not to the start the final training run, including Didier Cuche, Marco Buechel, Benjamin Raich and Michael Walchhofer. Another five skiers missed gates and two did not finish.
    The race did provide a one interesting surprise. Slalom skier Markus Larsson finished fifth from the 62nd start brightening his prospects for Sunday's combined event (one run of downhill and one run of slalom).  Erik Guay finished 12th and Manuel Osborne-Paradis in a tie for 21st for the only other North American showing for the day.

Bode Miller claimed the final training run for the World Cup downhill at Val d'Isere, France while many of his chief rivals sat out the arduous course.
    Miller won handily with a .61 of a second lead over David Poisson of France and .74 ahead of Christof Gruber of Austria.
    A 34 man list of skiers chose not to the start the final training run, including Didier Cuche, Marco Buechel, Benjamin Raich and Michael Walchhofer. Another five skiers missed gates and two did not finish.
    Low clouds covering the top of the course forced a lowered start. As clouds continued to press down the hill many teams turned to slalom training and rested legs for what has proven to be a difficult downhill. Just before the start the sun broke through.
    "It was a good idea to shorten the course," said Miller, "so that it wasn't as exhausting."
    He said the course "…is quite difficult, but it's getting better and better. We're gradually getting to know the slope." He also said he used the final training run to test skis. He was pleased with the result.
    The local media was focused on Frenchman David Poisson, now second in two of the three training runs and fast in the other when he was disqualified. "It was interesting trying out different lines today," he said. "One can gain time on the upper section of the course. The lower part demands full commitment and you have to hold on in there. I really like this slope," he said. "I hope to reach the top 15."
    While most of the speed skiers who skipped the trial used the time to train slalom, Michael Walchhofer was bedridden with a bad case of the flu. He is not expected to compete in the race.
    The race did provide a one interesting surprise. Slalom skier Markus Larsson finished fifth from the 62nd start brightening his prospects for Sunday's combined event (one run of downhill and one run of slalom).  Erik Guay finished 12th and Manuel Osborne-Paradis in a tie for 21st for the only other North American showings for the day.
    Forecasts call for bad weather moving in for Saturday, then clearing for Sunday. FIS officials have said the super-combined will get priority if one of the races needs to be canceled.
Patrick Lang contributed to this report.