Rahlves says Austria's Eberharter has decided to make this season his last

Rahlves says Austria’s Eberharter has decided to make this season his last{mosimage}Stephan Eberharter definitely plans to retire after this season, according to U.S. racer Daron Rahlves, who spoke with the Austrian champion in the finish area following Thursday’s super G races.

Rahlves says the Austrian also gave him the go-ahead to fill his shoes next year. Eberharter, who won the World Cup overall title last season and the downhill discipline title this year, has been coy on the question of his retirement all year, and his conversation with Rahlves is the firmest statement yet on the subject.

The two were speaking in the finish of the speed venue in Sestriere, Italy, prior to the awarding of the World Cup super G discipline titles, when Eberharter confirmed to Rahlves that he will not race next season.

“I heard that he had announced it on television,” said Rahlves. “I asked him, ‘Is this true or are you sh—— me,’ and he said, ‘No, the World Cup’s yours.’ He says he’s going to work for Uniqa. Uniqa is Eberharter’s primary sponsor, and he wears the company’s logo on the front of his helmet. “Maybe he’ll be selling insurance or something,” said Rahlves, joking.

Rahlves and Eberharter have had their differences in the past, but are friendly now. After Rahlves became ill following the post-race festivities in Kitzbuehel, Eberharter offered him advice about pacing himself through a World Cup season. “He said that as I’m getting older, I have to be careful about my energy levels,” Rahlves said.

On Wednesday, Eberharter, 34, received his crystal globe for winning the downhill title. At the press conference afterwards, he told reporters that he was still “50-50” on the decision. But on Thursday afternoon, even after Eberharter told Rahlves that his career was over, the Austrian men’s team spokesman Robert Brunner denied that the television announcement had been made. “For sure he definitely did not say something like this,” said Brunner, when an AP reporter asked him to confirm Rahlves’ story.

Last year, Eberharter joked about retiring toward the end of the season, but decided in the summer to race another year and make an earnest attempt at winning the downhill title.

But Rahlves maintains that Eberharter was sincere. “He told me it’s over,” Rahlves says. “He said he’s feeling old.”