Downhill favourites fail to come through

By David Hein Feb 13, 2006, 1:59 GMT

Austrian Michael Walchhofer pumps his fist after his run in the Men\'s Downhill race at the Turin 2006 Winter Olymipc Games in Sestriere Borgata, Sunday 12 February 2006. EPA/SIGI TISCHLER

Sestriere, Italy - Americans Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves, Austrians Hermann Maier and Michael Walchhofer and Norway's Kjetil Andre Aamodt were expected to battle it out for the gold medal in Sunday's Olympic downhill ski race.

In the end, only Walchhofer reached the podium as he captured the silver medal behind surprise gold medallist Antoine Deneriaz of France and ahead of the bronze medal winner Bruno Kernen of Switzerland.

'It's disappointing. We had two of the best guys in the race and we came up short,' said US Ski Team coach Paul McNichol.

His co-favourites Miller and Rahlves finished fifth and 10th respectively after a one-two domination of the 2005 world championship race.

And Aamodt was pushed off the podium to fourth when Deneriaz won as the final racer from the top 30. Maier was sixth.

'As shocking as our results were, it was fantastic to see (Deneriaz) on the podium in such a dominating fashion. I'm so happy for the French and Swiss teams,' McNichol said.

Austrian Ski Federation President Peter Schroecksnagel added: 'I'm happy that we won a medal. Hermann (Maier) told me you could forget about him (Deneriaz), but I figured he'd be there too.'

Rahlves, the 2005 world championship silver medallist who won three World Cup downhills this season, crushed the competition in the first training session before sitting out the second spell. The American said he was surprised with his time on Sunday.

'It's disappointing coming up short today. I felt like it was one of the better runs I've had,' said Rahlves. 'But now I have way less pressure on myself because I put a lot of the pressure on myself for this race.'

Miller, the 2005 downhill world champion, was also surprised with his time after what he thought was a good run.

'I was going full speed. There were a couple spots where I got bounced around. And I lost my grip on the last three curves. But I thought this race was enough to reflect a good result. The mistakes I made aren't usually the difference between winners and losers.'

And Maier, who is still battling the remnants of flu, added: 'I had a big chance today. But I didn't have the power. What's important for me now is to get the power back.'

Miller wasn't impressed with Deneriaz's showing, saying: 'He didn't do anything different than I did today. There are a million different things that can factor in a race like this.'

The 2003 world champion and Kitzbuehel winner Walchhofer, meanwhile, had another explanation for the surprising trio on the podium.

'It shows that this is a downhill where you have to race relaxed. Antoine and Bruno were more relaxed at the start than the favourites,' said the 30-year-old Austrian, who was probably racing in his final Olympic downhill.

Another reason could be motivation.

Deneriaz desperately wanted to show he was fully recovered from his serious knee injury from a crash in January 2005. And Kernen knew it was his last real chance for a medal.

'It was 13 long months. Everything seemed to be happening so fast after I fell and was helicoptered out. I tried not to be dramatic about everything but I kept thinking I have to make it back,' Deneriaz said.

'The Olympics are only every four years. I was always thinking about the Olympics - the Games and the Games. I knew I had to get back.'

Kernen, the 1997 world champion, added: 'I kept thinking it's the Olympics. You have one chance in the downhill. Give it everything you have. And I did. Bode has more chances in the other races. Daron too.'