Eberharter tames Streif

World Cup leader wins notorious Super-G

Stephan Eberharter leads the World Cup super-G standings. AP

KITZBUEHEL, Austria (AP) -- World Cup overall leader Stephan Eberhater of Austria won the men's super-G on the notorious Streif course on Friday, posting his first victory on the world's most harrowing slope after 12 years on the men's circuit.

Eberharter, who will ultimately be seeking the more prestigious downhill victory Saturday, charged down the glittery but treacherous Streif in 1 minute, 18.91 seconds for his second win in as many super-G races this season.

"It's great, absolutely great," the 32-year-old said. "It's beautiful to win in front of your home crowd on such a course as this.

"But it's even more important for me to win the downhill than super-G."

Italy's Alessandro Fattori, who has a history of solid results in Kitzbuehel, placed second in 1:19.32 for his best career finish in the discipline.

Swiss veteran Didier Cuche, who triumphed here in a downhill in 1998, was third in 1:19.78.

American super-G world champion Daron Rahlves narrowly missed the podium again this year, crossing fourth in 1:19.85.

"It was a lot harder than I thought," said Rahlves, who finished fourth in last year's super-G and third in the downhill. "My line wasn't as clean as it should have been but I had to be smart.

"I really feel on top of it and I'm really looking forward to coming down the Streif in tomorrow's downhill. Bring it on."

Eberharter, who had never won a race on a so-called classic course before this season, now has four under his belt with wins in Val d'Isere, France; Val Gardena, Italy; and Wengen, Switzerland.

Having also won the super-G in Val d'Isere, the Austrian tops the discipline standings with a perfect 200 points.

Eberharter, who has also won three of the six downhills so far this season, landing on the podium in all but one, also holds a healthy advantage in the overall World Cup standing with 932 points.

The victory firmly established Eberharter as the hot favorite for the Olympic super-G in Salt Lake City in February.

Austrians have swept every race on the Hahnenkamm since 2000, with double Olympic champion Hermann Maier winning both the downhill and super-G last season and Mario Matt taking the slalom.

Skiers from other nations will have the opportunity to arrest that trend in Saturday's downhill and the slalom Sunday.

 

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