GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany, Jan 28 AFP – In-form Swiss skier Didier Cuche won the men’s World Cup downhill here on Saturday on a course shortened due to fog.
The 37-year-old Swiss – winner of a record fifth downhill in Kitzbuehel last Saturday – won in a time of 1 min 09.10 seconds with Canada’s Erik Guay, who has previously enjoyed success on the Kandahar, second at 0.27secs behind.
Austria’s Hannes Reichelt was third at 0.30secs off the pace.
Italy’s Christof Innerhofer, who shone on the Kandahar course a year ago at the world championships with super-G gold, super combined silver and downhill bronze, finished fourth.
With Cuche set to retire at the end of the season, this was his 20th victory on the World Cup circuit and his third downhill win of the winter after victories at Lake Louise last November, Kitzbuehel and now Garmisch.
Victory here sees Cuche take over as the World Cup downhill leader from compatriot Beat Feuz, who only managed to finish 23rd.
Just like the week before in Kitzbuehel, the downhill start was lowered and shortened to that of the Super-G course, because of fog over the Bavarian Alps, but Cuche brushed off the difficult conditions to dominate the race.
“It’s better for our sport to shorten (the course) and start on time (in such conditions),” said Cuche.
“It is always a pleasure when I ski well and my skis are well prepared.”
Having been late for the bib draw on Friday night, American star Bode Miller was the 46th to start, but was unable to make an impression and finished 35th.