By Patrick Lang
ARE, Sweden, March 14 - Michael Walchhofer looks
more than ready to capture his second consecutive World Cup
downhill title on Wednesday in the opening competition of the
2006 finals.
Austria's Olympic silver medallist clocked the fastest time
in the only training run held on Tuesday afternoon in excellent
weather conditions on a demanding 2,922-metre course.
Walchhofer sped down the challenging "Olympia" run in one
minute, 44.56 seconds, a mere 0.08 seconds faster than Italian
veteran Kristian Ghedina.
Daron Rahlves of the U.S. was third 0.4 seconds behind
Walchhofer and 0.03 ahead of 2002 Olympic champion Fritz Strobl.
"I feel confident, this course is really nice and should
suit my style," said 2003 world champion Walchhofer, who leads
the downhill standings with 498 points, 57 more than Austrian
Strobl and 90 ahead of Rahlves.
"The season is ending but I have no problem remaining
focused and motivated. I won some big races this winter and it
would be great to get another Crystal cup after collecting an
Olympic silver medal last month."
Ghedina, who won the downhill in the 1990 finals at Are,
said: "It's nice to be back here, I have good memories from this
place.
"It's an interesting course, but if things go the way I
hope, I should be history in a few months. I'm discussing now
with various teams to start a new career in car racing next
summer," added the 37-year-old, who is retiring at the end of
the season.
DENERIAZ EIGHTH
Briton Finlay Mickel, participating in his first World Cup
finals, was fifth equal with Switzerland's Didier Cuche.
France's Olympic champion Antoine Deneriaz was eighth, well
clear of other leading downhill specialists like Hermann Maier,
who was 13th, and Bode Miller.
Deneriaz, who had not used his downhill skis since his
triumph at the Turin Games last month, said: "I have been
celebrating my win a lot during the past weeks.
"The celebration at home was certainly a highlight. More
than 15,000 people showed up in our small village where only 600
persons live normally.
"I'm curious to see how I'll feel tomorrow. I like this
course and I'll do my best to reach the podium"
Austrian Maier won the downhill and the giant slalom races
and his third overall title in his last appearance in Are in
March 2001.
Miller, overall World Cup champion last year, was only 18th
in his first timed training run since the Olympics.