The record will show Adrien Theaux won his first World Cup race by .01 over Joachim Puchner in Lenzerheide, March 16, 2011. The real win went to Didier Cuche, the next to the last starter on a warm hazy morning. Cuche finished fourth, behind third finishing Aksel Lund Svindal but with that placing won his fourth World Cup downhill title while Michael Walchhofer, in his final go-around on the Cup tour, placed 11th and lost his own chance at a fourth DH title and its corresponding place in history.

Among men, only the great Franz Klammer owns more downhill titles, with five. Peter Mueller, Franz Heinzer, Stephen Eberharter, Luc Alphand and Walchhofer have each won the DH crown three times.

Cuche crossed the finish, entertained the crowd with his tradition ski flip and then ran around the finish hoisting the World Cup globe, signifying his newest title to the delight of thousands of Swiss supporters.

Cuche said the day was another emotional one. “Despite my gruff outside, inside I am quite sensitive, so today, I am very, very happy.”

The popular 36 year old veteran had been called on to hold a press conference after the first and only training session on the Lenzerheide trail for the men to announce he was going to race another season. He had said last weekend this could be his last season after a run-in with FIS officials left him with a bill for a 5,000 sf fine after he complained about course conditions at Kvitfjell, Norway. He resigned his position on the Athletes Committee instead.

Cuche had proven nearly unbeatable in January when he posted Cup downhill wins at Chamonix and in Kitzbuehel winning the Hahnenkamm downhill in rough icy conditions for the fourth time (he says third time, one win was a two-run affair in 1998). Today, he demonstrated the World Cup champion has to be able to ski in all conditions.

At the final interval timer it appeared Cuche might fall short of picking up enough points to take the title, but he scorched the final steep pitch to the finish, taking the crown by 18points.

The race definitely seemed to favor the early runners. Last starter Ted Ligety tweeted that light was THE deciding factor. “(Cuche) would have won by 1.5second if he ran in the sun.”

There was sun for the first handful of skiers, but even Theaux, in bib eight, said “It felt slow.”

He added, “the skiers starting behind were not as favored with visibility as I was.”

More to Come
Gepa Photo

The SCOOP
by Hank McKee
Men’s World Cup Downhill, Lenzerheide, Switzerland, March 16, 2011
Equipment
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Theaux, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
2 Puchner, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
3 Svindal, Head/Head/Head
4 Cuche, Head/Head/Head
5 Innerhofer, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
6 Fill, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
7 Kueng, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
8 Feuz, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
9 Bertrand, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
10 Janka, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic

Men’s World Cup Downhill, Lenzerheide, Switzerland, March 16, 2011… It is the 36th of 39 races on the men’s 2011 World Cup schedule. … the ninth and final downhill. … It is the first of eight races (nine with team event) set for Lenzerheide, the first of eight at World Cup Finals. … It is the 27th Cup race held at Lenzerheide. … the tenth downhill. … the third men’s DH. … Both previous men’s DH’s at the site were won by Norwegians.

It is the first career World Cup win for Adrien Theaux. … He has two Cup podiums to his name, both from this season, a second in super G at Beaver Creek Dec. 4 and a third at Kitzbuehel Jan. 22. … It is the first French DH win since Pierre-Emmanuel Dalcin won at Val d’Isere Jan. 20, 2007.

It is a career best placing for Joachim Puchner and his second career Cup podium result and second in three days having placed third in super G at Kvitfjell.

It is the 36th career Cup podium for Aksel Lund Svindal. … his ninth in DH and his first in DH since Dec. 5, 2009 at Beaver Creek. … He has won three times at Lenzerheide, in DH March 14, 2007, in SG March 15, 2007 and in GS March 17, 2007. … It is his eighth podium placing of the season including the combined gold medal from World Championships.

Cuche (4th in race) wins the downhill title 510-498 over Michael Walchhofer (11th in race). … It is his fourth DH crown having also won in 2010, 2008 and 2007. … Klaus Kroell (15th in race) finishes the season third in DH standings with 411pts. … Bode Miller (did not race) is top American on final DH list in 12th with 190pts. … Erik Guay (13th in race) is top Canadian in 14th with 178pts. … Ivica Kostelic (did not race) holds and cannot be beaten for the overall title, leading 1356-956 over Cuche. … Carlo Janka (10th in race) is third overall with 793pts. … Ted Ligety (19th in race for no points) is the top American overall with 588pts. … Guay is 25th with 303pts. … Austria leads the men’s Nations Cup standings 5586-4082 over the Swiss. … France is third with 2980. … The US is eighth with 1457pts and Canada ninth with 1179pts.