Kjus savors Kitzbuehel triumph
KITZBUEHEL, Austria (Reuters) -- Veteran Lasse Kjus snatched victory in a downhill by the tightest of margins over Stephan Eberharter and hailed it as his biggest-ever World Cup triumph.
The 33-year-old Norwegian thundered down the treacherous 3.3-kilometer Streif course in one minute 58.78 seconds, almost crashing near the finish line.
Austrian Eberharter looked set to spoil Kjus's day after posting better intermediate times but crossed the line one hundredth of a second behind.
American Daron Rahlves, winner here last year albeit on a drastically shortened Streif, charged into third place just 0.20 seconds off the pace.
Kjus's second victory of the season after a super-G at Val Gardena last month, where he again edged out old rival Eberharter, allowed him to recapture the lead in the overall World Cup standings from Austrian Benjamin Raich.
"This is my biggest win ever on the World Cup," Kjus said of the course that boasts a giddy 85 percent gradient at its steepest part and is riddled with treacherous sections.
"To win by just one hundredth of a second is incredible and to win this classic race at the age of 33 is fantastic."
"I skied the top perfectly, handled the compression well but the final jump into the finish was no fun," he said in reference to almost crashing after flying high off the jump.
The former double world champion has not won a downhill since 1999 when he topped the podium five times in the speed discipline, including on a shorter course at Kitzbuehel.
Glittering career
The all rounder, whose glittering career has also been plagued by illness, has now amassed 16 World Cup wins and is a strong contender for more glory at this Tyrolean resort with five events and a total 500 points up for grabs.
With neither an Olympics nor a world championships this season, the Kitzbuehel festival is the climax of the men's calendar with the 64th running of the famous Hahnenkamm race taking place on Saturday.
The times from Thursday's downhill, a substitute race following postponements in Bormio, Chamonix and Wengen, will also be added to those from Sunday's slalom for the combined.
Eberharter's second place improves his chances of donning the World Cup downhill crown, the goal he set himself at the start of the season.
The Austrian, two months off turning 35, was not bitter about losing out on his second downhill victory in a row after Chamonix earlier this month -- where he beat none other than Kjus.
"I'm very pleased with this placing. Where did I lose those 100ths of a second? What a stupid question, I've no idea!" he said.
Former triple overall World Cup champion Hermann Maier wrapped up a successful day for the host nation by storming into fourth place, 0.48 seconds behind Kjus.
It was at Kitzbuehel last year that Maier, who almost lost a leg in a motorcycle accident, celebrated his comeback to the top of the sport with victory in the super-G.
"I'm very satisfied, I never thought I'd get such a result today because I haven't yet found my rhythm and didn't really ski very well," Maier said.
"Saturday is the real Streif downhill so I'm going to give my best and let's see what happens," he added.
Kjus's victory means the six downhill races this season have all been won by different skiers.
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