Feuz wins first DH at Kvitfjell, Cuche lead shrinks
It looks like the downhill title chase is going to get interesting. A Swiss won the first of two back-to-back downhills at Kvitfjell Friday, but it wasn’t standings leader Didier Cuche. Beat Feuz collected his first career World Cup win in the race, narrowly besting newly crowned World Downhill Champion Erik Guay. The Canadian started his late season charge to the super G title at Kvitfjell a season ago and finished second in the downhill at the site in 2007.
Michael Walchhofer picked up third in the race and picked up 15 points on Cuche, the fifth place finisher. Cuche leads the downhill standings by 50points with two downhills remaining. Walchhofer, a three-time World Cup downhill champion announced at season’s start this would be his last tour. Cuche, at 36 a year older than Walchhofer, has not indicated if he will race next season but did allow at World Championships in February he did not intend to race in the 2013 championships at Schladming, Austria.
The race started in bright sunshine, but clouds and wind moved in about skier 16 and the light went from good to horrible. Feuz, the fifth skier to start, said he “took advantage of the conditions,” but indicated he was not surprised by the outcome.
While the win might have been considered a surprise by many, it wasn’t to him. It came a day before his 24th birthday after missing two seasons to injury. He has been putting in the training time preparing to supplement the talent he showed with three World Junior medals in 2007.
“I always knew I could ski fast…. For me it is a confirmation that I can be among the best. It is not really a surprise.”
He added, “I caught a super ride.”
Guay said he was happy to be able to keep the momentum going from his gold medal win. “It was great in Garmisch (site of the World Championships). I’m really happy to be able to follow it up with another podium so it didn’t seem like a one-shot deal.”
In addition to gaining a win, he gained a spot in Canadian history, passing Ken Read on the World Cup list of podium winners. He now has 16 and trails only Steve Podborski’s 20 on the men’s all-time list.
“To be ahead of some of the Crazy Canucks, it’s very special for sure. I’ll keep working on it.”
Cuche said, considering the conditions when he started (22nd) he was satisfied with his fifth place. “I kept the damage within limits.”
Walchhofer said his podium finish “leaves me with a small chance,” for the downhill trophy.
Jan Hudec gave the Canadians two finishers in the top 10 with tenth, his best result since January 2009.
An injury plagued U.S. team got scoring from Steven Nyman in 25th and Erik Fisher in 27th, his first top 30 of the season.
Feuz photo by Gepa
The SCOOP
By Hank McKee
Men’s World Cup downhill, Kvitfjell, Norway, March 11, 2011
Equipment
Skier, skis/boots/bindings
1 Feuz, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
2 Guay, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
3 Walchhofer, Atomic/Atomic/Atomic
4 Baumann, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
5 Cuche, Head/Head/Head
6 Fayed, Head/Head/Head
7 Kroell, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
8 Kueng, Salomon/Salomon/Salomon
9 Jerman, Stoeckli/Lange/Atomic
10 Hudec, Rossignol/Rossignol/Rossignol
Men’s World Cup downhill, Kvitfjell, Norway, March 11, 2011. … Technically it is the second downhill of the men’s schedule, a make-up race from Beaver Creek Dec. 12. … It is the 31st race held of the men’s 38 race schedule with one cancellation. … The first of three to be held at Kvitfjell. … There are six men’s races remaining. … It is the second of nine scheduled downhills, the seventh to be held. … It is the 44th Cup race at Kvitfjell and 21st downhill.
It is the first career World Cup win for Beat Feuz and just his fourth top 10, two of those coming in combined. … He was seventh earlier this season in DH at Chamonix, his next best Cup finish. … He had not been better than 18th at Kvitfjell previously.
It is the 15th career World Cup podium for Erik Guay. … his third at Kvitfjell having won the super G last season and placed second in DH in 2007. … It is his third podium of the season having won gold in DH at World Championships and placing third in super G at Val Gardena Dec. 17.
It is the 48th career World Cup podium for Michael Walchhofer. … his 35th in downhill. … It is his third podium scored at Kvitfjell, having placed second in back-to-back races in 2009. … It is his fourth Cup podium of the season after winning three downhills before the end of December (Lake Louise, Val Gardena and Bormio).
It is the ninth career top 10 for Jan Hudec. … the sixth in downhill. … It is his best result of the season beating the 11th at Lake Louise Nov. 27 by one placing. … It is the second best career result (of four – all this season) for Benjamin Thomsen. … He finished 16th at Val Gardena Dec. 18. … It is the 17th career scoring result for Steven Nyman. … his sixth at Kvitfjell. … It is his fourth Cup score of the season and third in DH. … It is the 11th career scoring result for Erik Fisher. … his first of the season and his first at Kvitfjell.
Ivica Kostelic (24th in race) holds the lead of the World Cup overall standings 1314-770 (550pts) over Didier Cuche (5th in race) with six races remaining. … Aksel Lund Svindal (28th in race) is third overall with 725pts. … Ted Ligety (48th in race) is the top American on the overall list in seventh with 588pts. … Erik Guay the top Canadian in 32nd with 237pts. … Cuche leads the downhill standings 424-374 (50pts) over Walchhofer with two races remaining. … Klaus Kroell (7th in race) is third in the DH standings with 315pts. … Silvan Zurbriggen with 303pts and Romed Baumann with 251pts have not been eliminated from title contention. … Austria leads the men’s Nations Cup 4987-3527 over Switzerland with France third at 2724. … The U.S. is sixth with 1440, Canada ninth with 1087pts.
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Rank | Bib | FIS Code | Name | Year | Nation | Total Time | FIS Points |
1 | 5 | 511383 | FEUZ Beat | 1987 | SUI | 1:47.39 | 0.00 |
2 | 8 | 102263 | GUAY Erik | 1981 | CAN | 1:47.44 | 0.62 |
3 | 21 | 50041 | WALCHHOFER Michael | 1975 | AUT | 1:47.50 | 1.36 |
4 | 19 | 51215 | BAUMANN Romed | 1986 | AUT | 1:47.57 | 2.23 |
5 | 22 | 510030 | CUCHE Didier | 1974 | SUI | 1:47.63 | 2.97 |
6 | 1 | 192932 | FAYED Guillermo | 1985 | FRA | 1:47.78 | 4.83 |
7 | 16 | 50753 | KROELL Klaus | 1980 | AUT | 1:47.85 | 5.70 |
8 | 4 | 511139 | KUENG Patrick | 1984 | SUI | 1:47.95 | 6.94 |
9 | 13 | 560332 | JERMAN Andrej | 1978 | SLO | 1:48.00 | 7.55 |
10 | 6 | 102271 | HUDEC Jan | 1981 | CAN | 1:48.15 | 9.41 |
11 | 17 | 511313 | JANKA Carlo | 1986 | SUI | 1:48.17 | 9.66 |
12 | 11 | 560447 | SPORN Andrej | 1981 | SLO | 1:48.22 | 10.28 |
13 | 10 | 191740 | CLAREY Johan | 1981 | FRA | 1:48.30 | 11.27 |
14 | 20 | 510890 | ZURBRIGGEN Silvan | 1981 | SUI | 1:48.44 | 13.00 |
15 | 30 | 51327 | PUCHNER Joachim | 1987 | AUT | 1:48.51 | 13.87 |
16 | 7 | 191591 | BERTRAND Yannick | 1980 | FRA | 1:48.57 | 14.61 |
17 | 49 | 150398 | BANK Ondrej | 1980 | CZE | 1:48.67 | 15.85 |
18 | 53 | 103271 | THOMSEN Benjamin | 1987 | CAN | 1:48.74 | 16.72 |
18 | 12 | 192746 | THEAUX Adrien | 1984 | FRA | 1:48.74 | 16.72 |
20 | 3 | 511529 | GISIN Marc | 1988 | SUI | 1:48.75 | 16.84 |
21 | 32 | 421483 | JANSRUD Kjetil | 1985 | NOR | 1:48.80 | 17.46 |
22 | 2 | 510747 | GRUENENFELDER Tobias | 1977 | SUI | 1:48.86 | 18.21 |
23 | 39 | 561067 | PERKO Rok | 1985 | SLO | 1:48.88 | 18.45 |
24 | 28 | 380260 | KOSTELIC Ivica | 1979 | CRO | 1:48.89 | 18.58 |
25 | 24 | 533866 | NYMAN Steven | 1982 | USA | 1:48.95 | 19.32 |
26 | 9 | 293006 | INNERHOFER Christof | 1984 | ITA | 1:48.99 | 19.82 |
27 | 48 | 534939 | FISHER Erik | 1985 | USA | 1:49.04 | 20.43 |
28 | 18 | 421328 | SVINDAL Aksel Lund | 1982 | NOR | 1:49.05 | 20.56 |
29 | 25 | 510767 | HOFFMANN Ambrosi | 1977 | SUI | 1:49.06 | 20.68 |
30 | 38 | 50742 | REICHELT Hannes | 1980 | AUT | 1:49.08 | 20.93 |
31 | 15 | 292455 | FILL Peter | 1982 | ITA | 1:49.13 | 21.55 |
32 | 40 | 53981 | KROELL Johannes | 1991 | AUT | 1:49.16 | 21.92 |
33 | 54 | 293550 | MARSAGLIA Matteo | 1985 | ITA | 1:49.19 | 22.29 |
33 | 27 | 191964 | POISSON David | 1982 | FRA | 1:49.19 | 22.29 |
35 | 31 | 201606 | KEPPLER Stephan | 1983 | GER | 1:49.22 | 22.66 |
36 | 42 | 380292 | ZRNCIC-DIM Natko | 1986 | CRO | 1:49.40 | 24.89 |
37 | 14 | 292514 | HEEL Werner | 1982 | ITA | 1:49.42 | 25.14 |
38 | 36 | 53837 | KRAMER Manuel | 1989 | AUT | 1:49.66 | 28.11 |
39 | 51 | 561216 | KLINE Bostjan | 1991 | SLO | 1:49.71 | 28.73 |
40 | 29 | 501076 | OLSSON Hans | 1984 | SWE | 1:49.72 | 28.86 |
41 | 43 | 180570 | ROMAR Andreas | 1989 | FIN | 1:49.74 | 29.10 |
42 | 46 | 930024 | MAPLE Wiley | 1990 | USA | 1:49.82 | 30.09 |
43 | 34 | 294277 | KLOTZ Siegmar | 1987 | ITA | 1:49.97 | 31.95 |
44 | 45 | 294911 | PATSCHEIDER Hagen | 1988 | ITA | 1:50.13 | 33.93 |
45 | 50 | 561087 | MARKIC Gasper | 1986 | SLO | 1:50.15 | 34.18 |
46 | 47 | 100558 | COOK Dustin | 1989 | CAN | 1:50.49 | 38.39 |
47 | 26 | 500150 | JAERBYN Patrik | 1969 | SWE | 1:50.61 | 39.88 |
48 | 33 | 534562 | LIGETY Ted | 1984 | USA | 1:50.70 | 40.99 |
49 | 55 | 501230 | ERICSSON Daniel | 1987 | SWE | 1:50.74 | 41.49 |
50 | 44 | 53936 | DUERAGER Markus | 1990 | AUT | 1:50.82 | 42.48 |
51 | 56 | 103656 | HALBERT Kelby | 1990 | CAN | 1:50.95 | 44.09 |
52 | 52 | 194167 | MUZATON Maxence | 1990 | FRA | 1:51.39 | 49.54 |
53 | 57 | 531799 | FORD Tommy | 1989 | USA | 1:51.45 | 50.28 |
54 | 35 | 510498 | ZUEGER Cornel | 1981 | SUI | 1:51.49 | 50.78 |
Did not finish 1st run | |||||||
41 | 53817 | FRANZ Max | 1989 | AUT | |||
37 | 511142 | LUEOEND Vitus | 1984 | SUI | |||
23 | 291459 | PARIS Dominik | 1989 | ITA |