Miller wins men’s downhill on the Lauberhorn

14 January 2008

WENGEN – American Bode Miller won the men’s downhill on the famed Lauberhorn in Wengen Sunday to close the gap on Austrian Benjamin Raich in the overall standings.

Miller repeated his feat from last year, completing the longest downhill course in world in 2 minutes 30.40 seconds to beat local favourite Didier Cuche of Switzerland by 0.65 seconds.

Canada’s Manuel Osborne-Paradis finished third, a massive 1.33 seconds adrift of the winner.

Miller’s 27th win of his chequered career sees him draw level with Phil Mahre’s American record tally of World Cup victories.

Added to his triumph in Bormio, it’s hardly surprising that Miller is now top favourite for Saturday’s classic downhill in the Austrian resort of Kitzbuehel.

"It was a hell of a lot of fun today. I gave full throttle on every section of the course," said a delighted Miller. "Although I made a couple of mistakes, I was fast. But I didn’t feel I was going as fast as I was."

Miller’s win caps a fine weekend for the 30-year-old, who finished third in Friday’s super-combined and fifth in Saturday’s slalom.

Overall World Cup leader Raich didn’t race on Sunday and now leads Miller by just 79 points with 690 to 611 points after 20 of 41 events.

Cuche sits third on 605 points but remains one point clear of Miller at the top of the downhill standings with 284 points after five of 10 races. Austria’s Michael Walchhofer, fourth on the day, lies fourth, just four points behind Miller.

[Copyright dpa 2008]

Subject: Swiss news