So much for the theory a broken scapula would keep the grizzled Didier Cuche from racing. Cuche, current downhill standings leader, claimed the second training run for the Val Gardena downhill – set for Saturday – in a micro-close run that saw the first three skiers within two tenths of a second of each other over the two mile Saslong course. Italian Werner Heel was second .11 back and World Cup overall champion Aksel Lund Svindal was third, .12 back. Cuche broke a rib at the scapula last weekend while training at Val d’Isere.

Fourth went to Michael Walchhofer, .31 of a second back. Two Swedes, Hans Olsson in fifth and Patrik Jaerbyn in seventh made the top 10, as did two North Americans. Manuel Osborne-Paradis tied for ninth and Bode Miller, unable to get his foot in a ski boot due to an ankle injury four days ago, was tenth.

It wasn’t a great run from the rest of the North American grouping. Canadian Erik Guay posted 19th with teammate Jan Hudec and American Steven Nyman tied for 26th.

Cuche photo by GEPA

Rank Bib FIS Code Name Year Nation Total Time
 1  22  510030 CUCHE Didier  1974  SUI   1:59.22
 2  19  292514 HEEL Werner  1982  ITA   1:59.33
 3  21  421328 SVINDAL Aksel Lund  1982  NOR   1:59.34
 4  18  50041 WALCHHOFER Michael  1975  AUT   1:59.53
 5  9  501076 OLSSON Hans  1984  SWE   1:59.75
 6  16  510767 HOFFMANN Ambrosi  1977  SUI   1:59.78
 7  8  500150 JAERBYN Patrik  1969  SWE   2:00.17
 8  26  290998 STAUDACHER Patrick  1980  ITA   2:00.42
 8  15  102899 OSBORNE-PARADIS Manuel  1984  CAN   2:00.42
 10  5  532431 MILLER Bode  1977  USA   2:00.45
 11  20  50753 KROELL Klaus  1980  AUT   2:00.63
 12  31  560447 SPORN Andrej  1981  SLO   2:00.78
 13  27  51005 SCHEIBER Mario  1983  AUT   2:00.84
 14  43  192932 FAYED Guillermo  1985  FRA   2:00.92
 15  23  560332 JERMAN Andrej  1978  SLO   2:00.95
 16  38  511139 KUENG Patrick  1984  SUI   2:01.21
 17  2  510747 GRUENENFELDER Tobias  1977  SUI   2:01.22
 18  25  510727 DEFAGO Didier  1977  SUI   2:01.24
 19  10  102263 GUAY Erik  1981  CAN   2:01.35
 20  17  192746 THEAUX Adrien  1984  FRA   2:01.36
 21  12  293006 INNERHOFER Christof  1984  ITA   2:01.38
 22  41  561067 PERKO Rok  1985  SLO   2:01.39
 23  36  292291 THANEI Stefan  1981  ITA   2:01.43
 24  28  191964 POISSON David  1982  FRA   2:01.46
 25  14  350032 BUECHEL Marco  1971  LIE   2:01.48
 26  34  102271 HUDEC Jan  1981  CAN   2:01.81
 26  6  533866 NYMAN Steven  1982  USA   2:01.81
 28  46  511529 GISIN Marc  1988  SUI   2:01.90
 29  40  510498 ZUEGER Cornel  1981  SUI   2:01.96
 30  47  511039 KREUZER Ralf  1983  SUI   2:01.97
 31  11  191740 CLAREY Johan  1981  FRA   2:01.99
 32  45  150421 ZAHROBSKY Petr  1980  CZE   2:02.01
 33  33  50833 GRUGGER Hans  1981  AUT   2:02.05
 34  13  533131 SULLIVAN Marco  1980  USA   2:02.08
 35  37  191591 BERTRAND Yannick  1980  FRA   2:02.10
 36  1  534939 FISHER Erik  1985  USA   2:02.14
 37  3  530939 WEIBRECHT Andrew  1986  USA   2:02.22
 38  54  201987 STRODL Andreas  1987  GER   2:02.24
 39  4  50695 BUDER Andreas  1979  AUT   2:02.26
 40  61  561085 KRIZAJ Andrej  1986  SLO   2:02.39
 40  29  102961 DIXON Robbie  1985  CAN   2:02.39
 42  35  201606 KEPPLER Stephan  1983  GER   2:02.61
 43  58  380292 ZRNCIC-DIM Natko  1986  CRO   2:02.64
 44  24  51215 BAUMANN Romed  1986  AUT   2:02.65
 45  53  201900 WAGNER Hannes  1986  GER   2:02.70
 46  44  291459 PARIS Dominik  1989  ITA   2:02.73
 47  30  50451 GRUBER Christoph  1976  AUT   2:02.74
 48  39  561087 MARKIC Gasper  1986  SLO   2:02.79
 49  42  201542 STRODL Peter  1982  GER   2:02.86
 50  49  51327 PUCHNER Joachim  1987  AUT   2:03.06
 51  51  533762 TRANSUE Jeremy  1983  USA   2:03.09
 52  59  291034 PLANK Andy  1989  ITA   2:03.18
 53  48  193212 DURAND Jeremie  1986  FRA   2:03.20
 54  57  294277 KLOTZ Siegmar  1987  ITA   2:03.51
 55  32  532490 MACARTNEY Scott  1978  USA   2:03.59
 56  60  40171 BRANCH Craig  1977  AUS   2:03.65
 57  55  511383 FEUZ Beat  1987  SUI   2:03.81
 58  65  220695 CRAWFORD Douglas  1987  GBR   2:03.90
 59  69  103512 FRISCH Jeffrey  1984  CAN   2:03.96
 60  7  50858 STREITBERGER Georg  1981  AUT   2:04.04
 61  66  501230 ERICSSON Daniel  1987  SWE   2:04.25
 62  50  294911 PATSCHEIDER Hagen  1988  ITA   2:04.38
 63  62  293141 VARETTONI Silvano  1984  ITA   2:04.40
 64  71  191778 PICHOT Sebastien  1981  FRA   2:04.43
 65  70  421954 LYSDAHL Espen  1990  NOR   2:04.45
 66  63  193034 BOUILLOT Alexandre  1985  FRA   2:04.50
 67  67  53837 KRAMER Manuel  1989  AUT   2:04.62
 68  73  60159 VAN BUYNDER Frederik  1988  BEL   2:10.61
Did not start 1st run
   68  561216 KLINE Bostjan  1991  SLO   
   64  421483 JANSRUD Kjetil  1985  NOR   
   52  103090 HELIE Louis-Pierre  1986  CAN   
Did not finish 1st run
   72  480997 TARANENKO Mikhail  1988  RUS   
   56  51232 HERZOG Mario  1986  AUT   

Share This Article

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.”

Related Posts

Sam Maes and the Road Less Traveled: Twice the Fight Chronicles an Independent Olympian
Sam Maes and the Road Less Traveled: Twice the Fight Chronicles an Independent Olympian

Sam Maes and the Road Less Traveled: Twice the Fight Chronicles an Independent Olympian

February 5th, 2026
Shiffrin skis for 5th World Championship SL title
Shiffrin skis for 5th World Championship SL title

Shiffrin skis for 5th World Championship SL title

February 17th, 2023
World Cup Quota Earned Through NorAms
World Cup Quota Earned Through NorAms

World Cup Quota Earned Through NorAms

June 21st, 2022