After an eight-month fast, the men of the FIS World Cup were finally going fast again today (Nov. 28) as the alpine speed season opened with a downhill race in Lake Louise, Canada.
Hot off his giant slalom win in Soelden, the incomparable Swiss Didier Cuche completely controlled today's race. Cuche, a 35-year-old veteran of the White Circus was masterful in riding to a .44 of a second margin to his second win of the season. Italian Werner Heel (1:50.75) was second and Swiss Carlo Janka ( 1:50.93) was back on the podium this year with a third-place finish, he was second last year here. The defending World Cup downhill champion Michael Walchhofer (1:50.98) led the Austrians in fourth place.
The event was marred, however, when number 24 racer, American TJ Lanning, hooked his right ski, fell and injured his right knee. According to medical staff on site, the knee likely has significant ligament damage. He also complained of back pain before being lifted off the course by helicopter causing a 40-minute race delay. He was transferred to the Banff Hospital for x-rays.
An overcast day with light snowfall and blustery winds contributed to the outcome as some racers battled more difficult visibility issues than others.
Cuche credited everybody but himself with his win. "I had great skis today. They went really fast and I had to do my job and I'm glad I did," he said.
Cuche said he had been uncertain how prepared he was for downhill racing. "I wasn't sure I was skiing so well in downhill as (I was) in GS and super G. I knew that technically it was okay, but just that smooth feeling to let the ski go. I wasn't so fast the last few days of training. It seems to look good for the Swiss guys."
With Janka third, Ambrosi Hoffmann fifth and Tobias Gruenenfelder in ninth and Patrick Kueng narrowly missing the top 10 in 11th place, the Swiss had a day worth celebrating.
Cuchen had previously made three World Cup podiums at Lake Louise, but always in super G. "I have always had a tough time to be really fast here. My best position was fifth (in DH) and I'm really glad with the way I skied today."
"My race was ok, it wasn't perfect, two three little mistakes but I'm happy with third place, it's a good place for me here in Lake Louise," said Janka. "This year the pressure is bigger on me and I'm happy I can handle it with a podium."
It was a day of frustration for the American squad. The lone bright spot was a clean late run by Andrew Weibrecht (62nd starter) that got him 12th on the day and drew applause from Cuche among others as Weibrecht pumped his fist in the finish area.
With precious little speed training Bode Miller was uncharacteristically cautious in his run and wound up 29th. The Canadians fared somewhat better. John Kucera was sixth, Robbie Dixon eighth, Manuel Oborne-Paradis 16th, Eric Guay 21st and Louis-Pierre Helie 22nd.
Weibrecht said he was a bit surprised with his strong result from so late a start, but said he got lucky. "I got a little bit lucky with the light, it seemed like it cleared up a little bit. I just put the hammer down and gave it everything I had and skied clean. That's it."
He said he usually "get[s] crushed on the bottom flat here, but I'm starting to figure out the gliding part of skiing, so it's getting better and better. I can't complain."
Kucera, the defending World Champion in downhill on a decidedly different type of course than this said he was happy with his sixth-place finish, especially with the rest of the Canadian Cowboys contributing so well. "That's a strong team result and that it really important," said Kucera. "It shows that we are skiing well as a group and that gives us confidence heading into the rest of the year."
Last year's downhill winner, Italian Peter Fill, was not able to defend his title as an October groin injury has sidelined him for at least the majority of this season.
Heel captured his fifth World Cup podium to maintain the Italian strong hold on the Lake Louise podium. "To be on the podium today is quite exciting, it's just great to start off the season that way," said Heel. "The first race boosts your moral and gives you a lot of confidence, it's exactly what I was looking for."
The lack of podium placing is likely to raise concerns for the mighty Austrian squad. Walchhofer said he felt he was in good shape and said the course was hard and suitable. "I'm happy with this result," said Walchhofer, who had the fastest time in yesterday's training run, "and the training run shows me that and so I'm happy for the next race."
World Cup competition in Lake Louise continues in tomorrow (Nov. 29) with a men's super G.
- Eric Williams and Hank McKee/ Ski Racing Magazine
