Fill, Jansrud, and Kilde trade blows in Kvitfjell downhill training
In the two downhill training runs in Kvitfjell, Norway, on Thursday and Friday, the same three racers – Italy’s Peter Fill and Norwegians Kjetil Jansrud and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde – dominated the podium heading into Saturday’s penultimate downhill of the World Cup season.
On Thursday, Fill set the pace with a time of 1:46.35 seconds, 0.55 seconds ahead of Kilde in second and 0.63 seconds ahead of Jansrud in third.
“I had a good feeling and hit the line pretty well apart from that little mistake at the entrance of the flat, so I have more potential for tomorrow,” Fill explained. “But my time is for sure not the winning time on Saturday, the others are going to study the lines and be much faster. The conditions are great, it’s the first time that the snow is so consitent from top to bottom. The speed is not very high, because the snow is not very fast but it’s nice to ski.”
Steven Nyman led the way for the Americans on Thursday, finishing in fifth, 0.75 seconds off of Fill’s pace.
In Friday’s training, morning fog forced several delays and the eventual lowering of the start. Using the reserve start, Jansrud made the right adjustments and walked away with with the fastest time in 1:28.52 seconds. Fill managed the second fastest time, 0.52 seconds back and Kilde was third, 0.57 seconds off of the pace.
“Yesterday, I had a few tactical mistakes in my run,“ said Jansrud. “Today, I had no bigger issue and my run went smoothly. I was happy that it turned out to be fast as well. Let’s hope that the conditions and the weather are good tomorrow.”
Fill and Jansrud are locked in an intense battle for the downhill title. With Aksel Lund Svindal out for the season, Fill is the de facto leader in the standings, with Jansrud 73 points behind. The stage is now set for an exciting race on Saturday, as the results could potentially determine the small crystal globe winner.
“Today was good,” said Fill. “I didn’t have a perfect run, there were some little mistakes in it. For example, I underestimated some rolls, but it looks like I’m fast again and I’m happy to be among the best skiers today, it gives me confidence for tomorrow.”
For Kilde, his two fast training runs bode well for the young Norwegian as he has already claimed two World Cup victories this season, winning the downhill in Garmisch, Germany, and the super G in Hinterstoder, Austria. Kilde also has a legitimate shot at taking the super G title after starting the season ranked well outside of the top 30 in the world.
“It was really good today,” said Kilde. “The snow was more compact than yesterday and the few soft sections are gone. It was really fun to ski. When you have that feeling under your skis, with the bumps and stuff, it’s great to ski. It’s more challenging from the top and I’ve skied it many times, so it would be an advantage for me to start at the original position.”
On Friday, Travis Ganong and Nyman finished fourth and fifth, 0.78 and 0.83 seconds back, respectively. This weekend will be Ganong’s first World Cup start since tweaking his knee in the Olympic test event downhill in Jeongseon, South Korea, last month.
In sadder news, Frenchman Guillermo Fayed suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Friday’s training and will be out for the remainder of the season. Fayed is currently sitting in sixth in the downhill standings after finishing third in 2015.
Start time for Saturday’s downhill race is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. CET.
Thursday’s Official Training Results
Rank | Bib | FIS Code | Name | Year | Nation | Total Time | Diff. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 12 | 292455 | FILL Peter | 1982 | ITA | 1:46.35 | ||||
2 | 7 | 422139 | KILDE Aleksander Aamodt | 1992 | NOR | 1:46.90 | +0.55 | |||
3 | 16 | 421483 | JANSRUD Kjetil | 1985 | NOR | 1:46.98 | +0.63 | |||
4 | 5 | 102899 | OSBORNE-PARADIS Manuel | 1984 | CAN | 1:47.01 | +0.66 | |||
5 | 14 | 533866 | NYMAN Steven | 1982 | USA | 1:47.10 | +0.75 | |||
6 | 30 | 194542 | GIRAUD MOINE Valentin | 1992 | FRA | 1:47.18 | +0.83 | |||
7 | 9 | 192746 | THEAUX Adrien | 1984 | FRA | 1:47.36 | +1.01 | |||
8 | 18 | 102263 | GUAY Erik | 1981 | CAN | 1:47.37 | +1.02 | |||
9 | 27 | 53980 | KRIECHMAYR Vincent | 1991 | AUT | 1:47.44 | +1.09 | |||
10 | 4 | 50753 | KROELL Klaus | 1980 | AUT | 1:47.53 | +1.18 | |||
11 | 23 | 194298 | GIEZENDANNER Blaise | 1991 | FRA | 1:47.57 | +1.22 | |||
11 | 10 | 291459 | PARIS Dominik | 1989 | ITA | 1:47.57 | +1.22 | |||
13 | 28 | 561216 | KLINE Bostjan | 1991 | SLO | 1:47.58 | +1.23 | |||
14 | 11 | 192932 | FAYED Guillermo | 1985 | FRA | 1:47.62 | +1.27 | |||
15 | 25 | 530939 | WEIBRECHT Andrew | 1986 | USA | 1:47.96 | +1.61 | |||
16 | 13 | 530874 | GANONG Travis | 1988 | USA | 1:48.18 | +1.83 | |||
17 | 6 | 533131 | SULLIVAN Marco | 1980 | USA | 1:48.24 | +1.89 | |||
18 | 19 | 51215 | BAUMANN Romed | 1986 | AUT | 1:48.29 | +1.94 | |||
19 | 45 | 192504 | MERMILLOD BLONDIN Thomas | 1984 | FRA | 1:48.34 | +1.99 | |||
20 | 29 | 200379 | SANDER Andreas | 1989 | GER | 1:48.35 | +2.00 | |||
21 | 26 | 511529 | GISIN Marc | 1988 | SUI | 1:48.47 | +2.12 | |||
22 | 22 | 54005 | STRIEDINGER Otmar | 1991 | AUT | 1:48.48 | +2.13 | |||
23 | 20 | 293006 | INNERHOFER Christof | 1984 | ITA | 1:48.60 | +2.25 | |||
24 | 8 | 511383 | FEUZ Beat | 1987 | SUI | 1:48.71 | +2.36 | |||
25 | 2 | 53817 | FRANZ Max | 1989 | AUT | 1:48.79 | +2.44 | |||
26 | 39 | 202196 | BRANDNER Klaus | 1990 | GER | 1:48.88 | +2.53 | |||
26 | 32 | 511981 | WEBER Ralph | 1993 | SUI | 1:48.88 | +2.53 | |||
28 | 31 | 560447 | SPORN Andrej | 1981 | SLO | 1:48.96 | +2.61 | |||
29 | 21 | 191740 | CLAREY Johan | 1981 | FRA | 1:49.00 | +2.65 | |||
30 | 24 | 191964 | POISSON David | 1982 | FRA | 1:49.04 | +2.69 | |||
31 | 46 | 380341 | ULLRICH Max | 1994 | CRO | 1:49.06 | +2.71 | |||
32 | 3 | 103271 | THOMSEN Benjamin | 1987 | CAN | 1:49.08 | +2.73 | |||
33 | 37 | 531452 | BIESEMEYER Thomas | 1989 | USA | 1:49.12 | +2.77 | |||
34 | 38 | 990081 | CASSE Mattia | 1990 | ITA | 1:49.13 | +2.78 | |||
35 | 1 | 292514 | HEEL Werner | 1982 | ITA | 1:49.14 | +2.79 | |||
36 | 35 | 294277 | KLOTZ Siegmar | 1987 | ITA | 1:49.22 | +2.87 | |||
37 | 33 | 561217 | KOSI Klemen | 1991 | SLO | 1:49.29 | +2.94 | |||
38 | 41 | 511808 | SCHMED Fernando | 1991 | SUI | 1:49.49 | +3.14 | |||
39 | 17 | 511313 | JANKA Carlo | 1986 | SUI | 1:49.50 | +3.15 | |||
40 | 34 | 202535 | DRESSEN Thomas | 1993 | GER | 1:49.54 | +3.19 | |||
41 | 42 | 6291029 | BATTILANI Henri | 1994 | ITA | 1:49.68 | +3.33 | |||
41 | 40 | 561067 | PERKO Rok | 1985 | SLO | 1:49.68 | +3.33 | |||
43 | 36 | 561255 | CATER Martin | 1992 | SLO | 1:49.97 | +3.62 | |||
44 | 48 | 170159 | VORRE Marcus | 1998 | DAN | 1:52.51 | +6.16 | |||
45 | 15 | 50742 | REICHELT Hannes | 1980 | AUT | 1:57.79 | +11.44 | |||
46 | 44 | 511638 | TUMLER Thomas | 1989 | SUI | 2:08.10 | +21.75 | |||
Did not start 1st run | ||||||||||
47 | 511852 | CAVIEZEL Gino | 1992 | SUI | ||||||
Did not finish 1st run | ||||||||||
43 | 110324 | VON APPEN Henrik | 1994 | CHI |
Friday’s Official Training Results
Rank | Bib | FIS Code | Name | Year | Nation | Total Time | Diff. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 16 | 421483 | JANSRUD Kjetil | 1985 | NOR | 1:28.52 | ||||
2 | 17 | 292455 | FILL Peter | 1982 | ITA | 1:29.04 | +0.52 | |||
3 | 8 | 422139 | KILDE Aleksander Aamodt | 1992 | NOR | 1:29.09 | +0.57 | |||
4 | 10 | 530874 | GANONG Travis | 1988 | USA | 1:29.30 | +0.78 | |||
5 | 13 | 533866 | NYMAN Steven | 1982 | USA | 1:29.35 | +0.83 | |||
6 | 21 | 291459 | PARIS Dominik | 1989 | ITA | 1:29.36 | +0.84 | |||
7 | 5 | 53980 | KRIECHMAYR Vincent | 1991 | AUT | 1:29.48 | +0.96 | |||
8 | 12 | 511383 | FEUZ Beat | 1987 | SUI | 1:29.49 | +0.97 | |||
9 | 38 | 990081 | CASSE Mattia | 1990 | ITA | 1:29.53 | +1.01 | |||
10 | 23 | 194542 | GIRAUD MOINE Valentin | 1992 | FRA | 1:29.64 | +1.12 | |||
11 | 11 | 102263 | GUAY Erik | 1981 | CAN | 1:29.80 | +1.28 | |||
12 | 1 | 50753 | KROELL Klaus | 1980 | AUT | 1:29.86 | +1.34 | |||
13 | 7 | 51215 | BAUMANN Romed | 1986 | AUT | 1:29.89 | +1.37 | |||
14 | 4 | 194298 | GIEZENDANNER Blaise | 1991 | FRA | 1:29.94 | +1.42 | |||
15 | 26 | 102899 | OSBORNE-PARADIS Manuel | 1984 | CAN | 1:30.04 | +1.52 | |||
16 | 6 | 191740 | CLAREY Johan | 1981 | FRA | 1:30.05 | +1.53 | |||
17 | 3 | 530939 | WEIBRECHT Andrew | 1986 | USA | 1:30.09 | +1.57 | |||
18 | 2 | 191964 | POISSON David | 1982 | FRA | 1:30.24 | +1.72 | |||
19 | 15 | 192746 | THEAUX Adrien | 1984 | FRA | 1:30.32 | +1.80 | |||
20 | 29 | 200379 | SANDER Andreas | 1989 | GER | 1:30.33 | +1.81 | |||
21 | 9 | 293006 | INNERHOFER Christof | 1984 | ITA | 1:30.34 | +1.82 | |||
22 | 39 | 202196 | BRANDNER Klaus | 1990 | GER | 1:30.36 | +1.84 | |||
23 | 20 | 54005 | STRIEDINGER Otmar | 1991 | AUT | 1:30.39 | +1.87 | |||
24 | 22 | 103271 | THOMSEN Benjamin | 1987 | CAN | 1:30.59 | +2.07 | |||
25 | 45 | 192504 | MERMILLOD BLONDIN Thomas | 1984 | FRA | 1:30.64 | +2.12 | |||
26 | 27 | 292514 | HEEL Werner | 1982 | ITA | 1:30.67 | +2.15 | |||
27 | 24 | 511529 | GISIN Marc | 1988 | SUI | 1:30.70 | +2.18 | |||
28 | 25 | 533131 | SULLIVAN Marco | 1980 | USA | 1:30.80 | +2.28 | |||
29 | 46 | 380341 | ULLRICH Max | 1994 | CRO | 1:30.88 | +2.36 | |||
29 | 42 | 6291029 | BATTILANI Henri | 1994 | ITA | 1:30.88 | +2.36 | |||
31 | 14 | 50742 | REICHELT Hannes | 1980 | AUT | 1:30.89 | +2.37 | |||
32 | 41 | 511808 | SCHMED Fernando | 1991 | SUI | 1:31.09 | +2.57 | |||
33 | 36 | 561255 | CATER Martin | 1992 | SLO | 1:31.19 | +2.67 | |||
34 | 40 | 561067 | PERKO Rok | 1985 | SLO | 1:31.20 | +2.68 | |||
35 | 31 | 560447 | SPORN Andrej | 1981 | SLO | 1:31.40 | +2.88 | |||
36 | 30 | 53817 | FRANZ Max | 1989 | AUT | 1:31.42 | +2.90 | |||
37 | 35 | 294277 | KLOTZ Siegmar | 1987 | ITA | 1:31.49 | +2.97 | |||
38 | 37 | 531452 | BIESEMEYER Thomas | 1989 | USA | 1:31.55 | +3.03 | |||
39 | 33 | 561217 | KOSI Klemen | 1991 | SLO | 1:31.62 | +3.10 | |||
40 | 44 | 511638 | TUMLER Thomas | 1989 | SUI | 1:31.65 | +3.13 | |||
40 | 34 | 202535 | DRESSEN Thomas | 1993 | GER | 1:31.65 | +3.13 | |||
42 | 43 | 110324 | VON APPEN Henrik | 1994 | CHI | 1:31.78 | +3.26 | |||
43 | 32 | 511981 | WEBER Ralph | 1993 | SUI | 1:31.99 | +3.47 | |||
44 | 47 | 511852 | CAVIEZEL Gino | 1992 | SUI | 1:33.48 | +4.96 | |||
45 | 48 | 170159 | VORRE Marcus | 1998 | DAN | 1:44.33 | +15.81 | |||
46 | 28 | 561216 | KLINE Bostjan | 1991 | SLO | 1:48.10 | +19.58 | |||
47 | 19 | 511313 | JANKA Carlo | 1986 | SUI | 21:37.36 | +20:08.84 | |||
Did not finish 1st run | ||||||||||
18 | 192932 | FAYED Guillermo | 1985 | FRA |