European Report: Strobl fastest in DH training; Miller chief threat for Austrians

European Report: Strobl fastest in DH training; Miller chief threat for Austrians{mosimage}Austrians filled eight of the top 10 spots in Friday’s downhill training run on the 3.1km “Karl Schranz” course in St. Anton, Austria, with Fritz Strobl leading the charge in 1:57.85. 0.11 ahead of Switzerland’s Didier Cuche.

Racers were able to train Friday after Thursday’s session was cancelled because of heavy snow the night before. Hannes Trinkl, downhill gold medalist at the 2001 world championships at the Tyrolean resort, was third ahead of compatriot Hermann Maier.

“It was a different feeling this time round. I was a bit confused at the start,” the 36-year-old Trinkl told Reuters. “But from the middle to the finish was very nice. A lot of memories came flashing back.”

Maier is poised to vault into the overall lead if he can ski well Saturday said the long course is among the most challenging skiers have seen all season.

“You have to be very focused to reach the finish line,” he said. “It’s a very long downhill with lots of bends — certainly the downhill course that taxes your strength the most this winter.”

Daron Rahlves was the top American with 12th while Bode Miller was 22nd, Bryon Friedman 29th and Jakob Fiala DNF’d. Rahlves — who fared well at Kitzbuehel last month and is poised to move higher in the downhill standings if he can take on Stefan Eberharter said he’s excited about racing against the Austrians again on their home snow.

“It definitely motivates me more. I know I’ve got a good chance to be competitive and to knock down the Austrian boys,” he said.

>> Downhill training results, St. Anton

1. Fritz Strobl, Austria 1:57.85

2. Dider Cuche, Switzerland 1:57.96

3. Hannes Trinkl, Austria 1:58.12

4. Hermann Maier, Austria 1:58.20

5. Hans Knaus, Austria 1:59.00

6. Josef Strobl, Austria 1:59.10

7. Erik Seletto, Italy 1:59.18

8= Johan Grugger, Austria 1:59.21

8= Klaus Kroell, Austria 1:59.21

10. Stefan Eberharter, Austria 1:59.32

Also:

12. Daron Rahlves, USA 1:59.33

22. Bode Miller, USA 2:00.28

26. Vincent Lavoie, CAN 2:00.53

29. Bryon Friedman, USA 2:01.10

31. David Anderson, CAN 2:01.50

DNF: Jakub Fiala, USA

>> Miller represents Public Enemy No. 1 to Austrian team

Tens of thousands of rowdy Austrian fans are already piling into St. Anton for the final weekend of World Cup ski racing on Austrian snow this season. With three Austrians standing atop the overall standings, only Bode Miller is poised to spoil the party.

Miller is wildly popular among Austrians. Dubbed the “Crash Pilot” by the Austrian press, Miller lives in Innsbruck during the ski season and fans love his wild style.

Austrian ski team officials hope to escape this weekend’s races in St. Anton with a wider gap against Miller.

“He’s an outsider to win this year, but it can still happen,” Austrian coach Anton Giger told the Der Standard newspaper. “I cannot rule out Miller. He has to be prepared to take big risks and try to win everything if he wants to win. I’m sure the fight for the overall will come down to Sestriere [Italy, site of the World Cup Finals]. Whoever skis the best there will win.”

Miller, for his part, says he’ll fight to the finish.

“If Raich keeps skiing like he has, it will be difficult to catch up. But if he falls in the slalom and I win, it’s only a difference of 30 points,” Miller said. “The situation is very interesting. I will keep fighting right to the finals.”

>> Snowboarder eyes fast comeback

Scottish snowboarder Lesley McKenna said she’s hopeful of starting the World Cup finals next month at Bardonecchia despite breaking her jaw in a training accident last month.

“It’s not as though I broke my leg so I absolutely expect to be competing in the finals,” McKenna told BBC Sport. “There is a month to go before Italy and although I will not get back on snow until just before then, I want to compete with a special faceguard to go with my helmet.”

McKenna is sitting second overall in the halfpipe standings and admitted she’ll likely not have a chance to claim the title.

“Injuries come with the territory but it could have been a lot worse. I am now a long shot for the title which is a shame for my fans, but there is always next season,” she said. “What happened was a freak accident so it has not put me off trying new tricks at all.”

McKenna broke her jaw in two places while attempting a 720 on a steep kicker in St Anton, Austria.

“I knew straight away it was a bad injury because my lip was split and I thought I had broken something but thankfully I didn’t lose any teeth,” she said. “It was a bit of an effort having to liquidize all my food for a couple of weeks but almost everything can be liquidized, even haggis, neeps and tatties!”

>> Racing this weekend: No women’s alpine races. … Men’s downhill Saturday, slalom Sunday, St. Anton, Austria. … Men’s 2x15km double pursuit Friday, team sprint Sunday; women’s 2×7.5km double pursuit Saturday, team sprint Sunday, all Oberstdorf, Germany. … Ski jumping K130 individual Saturday, Team K130 on Sunday, Willingen, Germany. … Nordic combined Team K120/3X5km on Saturday, sprint K120/7.5km on Sunday, Oberstdorf, Germany. … Freestyle moguls men’s and women’s finals Saturday, Inawashiro, Japan. … Freestyle men’s and women’s aerials finals Saturday, Harbin/Long-zhu, China.