Eberharter ends long wait for win
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| DOWNHILL RESULTS |
1. Stephan Eberharter (Aut) 1:59.08
2. Lasse Kjus (Nor) 1:59.39
3. Michael Walchhofer (Aut) 1:59.83
4. Andreas Schifferer (Aut) 1:59.99
5. Hannes Trinkl (Aut) 2:00.00
6. Fritz Strobl (Aut) 2:00.06
7. Johann Grugger (Aut) 2:00.15
8. Christoph Gruber (Aut) 2:00.31
9. Bruno Kernen (Swi) 2:00.36
10= Bryon Friedman (U.S.) 2:00.40
10= Antoine Deneriaz (Fra) 2:00.40
10= Didier Cuche (Swi) 2:00.40 |
| OVERALL STANDINGS |
1. Hermann Maier (Aut) 535
2. Lasse Kjus (Nor) 518
3. Benjamin Raich (Aut) 487
4. Stephan Eberharter (Aut) 458
5. Hans Knauss (Aut) 454
6. Kalle Palander (Fin) 449
7. Michael Walchhofer (Aut) 436
8. Andreas Schifferer (Aut) 421
9. Bjarne Solbakken (Nor) 383
10. Bode Miller (U.S.) 337 |
| DOWNHILL STANDINGS |
1. Michael Walchhofer (Aut) 330
2. Stephan Eberharter (Aut) 251
3. Hermann Maier (Aut) 239
4. Damon Rahlves (U.S.) 215
5. Hans Knauss (Aut) 199
6. Antoine Deneriaz (Fra) 193
7. Lasse Kjus (Nor) 192
8. Andreas Schifferer (Aut) 191
9. Johann Grugger (Aut) 140
10. Fritz Strobl (Aut) 138 |
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CHAMONIX, France (Reuters) -- Defending overall World Cup champion Stephan Eberharter collected his first victory since last March in a downhill at Chamonix on Saturday.
The 34-year-old Austrian started first and set such a blistering pace with his time of one minute 59.08 seconds that none of the following racers could match him.
Norwegian Lasse Kjus set himself up for victory in the weekend's combined events, which will add the downhill times to Sunday's slalom results, with second place, 0.31 seconds behind.
World downhill champion Michael Walchhofer was third, 0.75 behind. He was followed by five fellow Austrians with Swiss Bruno Kernen having to settle for ninth place -- still his team's best downhill result this season.
Eberharter said he had been happy to start first on a Kandahar course softened by warm weather.
"This morning when I did the inspection I was happy to have number one," he said. "The course was pretty soft and wet on the lower part so it was in better shape for me than for the others."
Eberharter has spent the last two months shaking off recurring bouts of influenza and said he was just happy to be well again.
"I am back in good shape. I was really confident today," he said.
Kjus said his start number of 19 had been a disadvantage in the conditions but he was pleased to be runner-up.
"It would have been difficult to go much faster but top three is excellent for me," said Kjus, who turns 33 on Wednesday and took his first downhill podium since December 2001.
American Bode Miller, who pipped Kjus to last year's world championship combined title, will also be out for victory on Sunday though he finished out of Saturday's downhill points in 34th.
Former champion Hermann Maier held on to his overall cup lead, 17 points ahead of Kjus, after almost crashing on a jump and finishing 13th.
Huge crowds turned out on Saturday in the hope of seeing local favourite Antoine Deneriaz repeat his Val Gardena victory of last month.
But the Frenchman finished only joint 10th with Swiss Didier Cuche.
