Cuche, Heel And Janka Take Top Honors In Lake Louise Downhill--Weibrecht Top American In 12th

Switzerland's Didier Cuche powered through light snowfall, poor visibility and a world class field to claim his second win of the season, today's Downhill in Lake Louise. Cuche, the winner of the opening training run on Wednesday, sped down the Lake Louise course in a time of 1:50.31 to outdistance runner-up Werner Heel of Italy and teammate Carlo Janka to claim the top step of the podium. Cuche was also victorious in the opening World Cup Giant Slalom in Soelden, Austria in October.

For the Americans, Lake Placid's Andrew Weibrecht led the way with a 12th place finish, starting with bib number 62. Weibrecht had a similar result two years ago in the Audi Birds of Prey Downhill in Beaver Creek, starting with bib 53 and finishing tenth.

Bode Miller, who finished sixth and second respectively in the two training runs held, faded to 29th today with a run where several mistakes in the upper section of the course cost him dearly on the bottom. It was Miller's first Downhill race since last February at the World Championships in Val d'Isere, France and came with only three days of speed training.

The race was halted for half an hour as T.J. Lanning of Park City, Utah was helicoptered off the course after hooking a gate and tumbling into the safety fencing. Lanning suffered left leg and knee injuries.

Defending Audi Birds of Prey Downhill champion Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway, also coming back from a leg bruise suffered just prior to Soelden, looked tenative in his skiing and finished 33rd.

The World Cup men will race Super-G in Lake Louise on Sunday and then head for Beaver Creek and the 2009 Audi World Cup Race Week. Competitions are slated to include Super Combined, Downhill and Giant Slalom.

Posted in: Beaver Creek,Birds of Prey,Birds of Prey World Cup Race Week,FIS,ski racing,U.S. Ski Team,Vail Valley Foundation,world cup