Switzerland's Cuche wins in Garmisch, with USST's Rahlves as runner-up

Switzerland’s Cuche wins in Garmisch, with USST’s Rahlves as runner-upDidier Cuche surprised the favorites to give Switzerland its first World Cup victory of the season in a men’s downhill at Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Friday. American Daron Rahlves was runner-up, his fourth straight World Cup podium.

There were an unusual number of American fans for a World Cup race, mainly because the area has long been home to several American military bases.

“I got some good input from Bode today,” said Rahlves, who is sick with a sore throat, but managed to finish second. “My ultimate goal is to win the overall. If I can keep skiing speed events the way I am now, and add giant slalom, I can do it.”

After 50 centimeters of snow fell on the hill the week before the race, the sky cleared and organizers were able to push the snow off the icy Kandahar course.

Cuche, 29, clocked a winning time of 1:59.49 with an aggressive run in this Bavarian Alps resort. Rahlves was a close second in 1:59.57, while Austrian Stephan Eberharter, the overall World Cup champion last year, finished third in 1:59.70.

Cuche, who scored the fifth World Cup victory of his career, had endured a disappointing season. He had previously come close in Garmisch, with four podium placings.

For Rahlves, it was his fourth straight trip to a World Cup podium. He was third, first and second in the three speed events at Kitzbuehel, Austria, last week.

“We saw some great skiing today. Daron’s been sick, wasn’t feeling so great and didn’t have a great day of training [Thursday], but he came out today and just put it down,” said John McBride, head coach for the U.S. men’s speed team. “The conditions were harder and faster than [Thursday] and ‘D’ just pinned it again. He’s skiing so well, so confidently.”

Bryon Friedman, returning to competition after suffering a concussion in a crash during the Kitzbuehel super G, finished 21st, with Bode Miller 27th. Jakub Fiala finished 37th.

“I´m just going to lock myself in my room and close my bomb-shelter curtains and sleep it off,” said Friedman about his own head cold.

The same three men were on the podium of last year’s downhill here but in a different order, Eberharter having won ahead of Cuche and Rahlves.

Austrian Benjamin Raich, who is chiefly a technical racer and did not compete on Friday, retains the lead in the overall World Cup standings.

Another downhill on Saturday and a super G on Sunday will complete the weekend program.

Alpine World Cup

Men’s Downhill

Garmisch, Germany

January 30, 2004

1. Didier Cuche, SUI 1:59.49

2. Daron Rahlves, USA 1:59.57

3. Stephan Eberharter, AUT 1:59.70

4. Fritz Strobl, AUT 2:00.20

5. Hermann Maier, AUT 2:00.32

6. Bruno Kernen, SUI 2:00.40

7. Alessandro Fattori, ITA 2:00.51

8. Ambrosi Hoffmann, SUI 2:00.54

9. Paul Accola, SUI 2:00.57

10. Antoine Deneriaz, FRA 2:00.60

10. Hans Knauss, AUT 2:00.60

12. Christoph Gruber, AUT 2:00.67

13. Andreas Schifferer, AUT 2:00.75

14. Didier Defago, SUI 2:00.80

15. Hannes Trinkl, AUT 2:01.10

16. Peter Fill, ITA 2:01.19

17. Klaus Kroell, AUT 2:01.33

18. Bjarne Solbakken, NOR 2:01.35

18. Roland Fischnaller, ITA 2:01.35

20. Kristian Ghedina, ITA 2:01.42

21. Bryon Friedman, USA 2:01.43

22. Kurt Sulzenbacher, ITA 2:01.51

23. Pierre-Emmanuel Dalcin, FRA 2:01.56

24. Florian Eckert, GER 2:01.61

25. Patrik Jaerbyn, SWE 2:01.64

26. Marco Buechel, LIE 2:01.67

27. Bode Miller, USA 2:01.68

28. Luca Cattaneo, ITA 2:02.16

29. Tobias Gruenenfelder, SUI 2:02.31

29. Yannick Bertrand, FRA 2:02.31

Other North Americans:

37. Jakub Fiala, USA 2:03.10

DNF: Vincent Lavoie, CAN

THE SCOOP

> by Hank McKee

Equipment, Men’s Downhill

Garmisch, Germany, January 30, 2004

Skier, skis/boots/bindings

1 Cuche, Atomic/Lange/Atomic

2 Rahlves, Atomic/Lange/Atomic

3 Eberharter, Atomic/Lange/Atomic

4 Strobl, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon

5 Maier, Atomic/Lange/Atomic

6 Kernen, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol

7 Fattori, Fischer/Lange/Tyrolia

8 Hoffmann, Stoeckli/Atomic/Atomic

9 Accola, Stoeckli/Lange/Atomic

10 Deneriaz, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

10 Knauss, Atomic/Lange/Atomic

The 24th race (and 26th scoring event) of 38 on the men’s World Cup schedule; it’s the eighth of 12 downhills. … A replacement race for one originally scheduled at Wengen, Switzerland. … It’s the 17th win of the season for Atomic skis.

The fifth career win for Didier Cuche, and second in DH. … First win of the season for Switzerland. … He is the first Swiss skier to win at Garmisch since Daniel Mahrer in 1993. … The 15th career podium for Daron Rahlves, … all but one in downhill (his other podium was a super G win a week ago in Kitzbuehel). … It’s his fifth podium of the season. … It is the 70th career podium for Stephan Eberharter, 35th in downhill, and his seventh podium of the season. … There have been seven different winners in the men’s eight DH races with just Eberharter collecting more than one win.

The eighth scoring finish for Bryon Friedman, all this season, and his third best DH finish. … It is the 16th scoring event of the season for Bode Miller. … He adds four points for the finish. … It is his fourth score of the season in DH, including two at Kitzbuehel and one at Lake Louise.

Benjamin Raich maintains the World Cup overall lead 918-824 over Lasse Kjus, who underwent season-ending knee surgery on Friday. … Hermann Maier is third at 777, Miller fourth at 755. … Stephan Eberharter maintains the DH lead 491-435 over Daron Rahlves. … The Austrian Nations Cup lead is 11346-3222 over the USA. … The Swiss are third at 3143 and the Italians fourth at 3135 (before women’s race). … Austrian men lead 6978-2042 over Italy. … US men are fifth at 1734, eight points behind the Swiss.