January 26, 2004

Four days, four podiums : for the US ski team men in Kitzbuhel. A first, second and third for Daron Rahlves plus a combined win for Bode Miller amount to the best showing the US has ever had in this, or possibly any, World Cup event The blue-ribbon event, the Hahnenkamm downhill, was decisively won by Austria's Stephan Eberharter, a rather quiet veteran who, despite excellent career results, has often been overshadowed by teammate Hermann Maier. As much as I'd have liked to see Daron win it, I think no one can resent Eberharter's bagging one more big win in what was probably his final Hahnenkamm appearance.

The weekend's results give Bode Miller a big lift in the overall standings. He now stands in fourth place, with only Maier, Raich and Kjus between him and the top spot. Maier is a speed boy and will fade, but Kjus and Raich are both excellent all-arounders and will be tough competition.

posted by lil_brown_bat to other at 07:28 AM - 5 comments

Thanks for the post lil brown bat. It looks like we'll have a good Olympic squad.

posted by vito90 at 08:23 PM on January 26, 2004

Good stuff. By the way ... any comment on the New Yorker article? Does Miller really have a "mercurial genius" reputation?

posted by lbergstr at 12:09 PM on January 28, 2004

Also, the standings page you linked puts Miller in third. ???

posted by lbergstr at 12:10 PM on January 28, 2004

Oops - Miller advanced because he finished fourth in the Planai slalom yesterday.

posted by lbergstr at 03:49 PM on January 28, 2004

Didn't read the New Yorker article; it's not online. Yeh, the link is to the current WC standings, so it includes the slalom at Schladming, a night race that had some controversial results this year. Bode led after the first run but was delayed in taking his second run because of a course hold; many, including the US coaches, felt that the delay plus the organizers' failure to repair the deteriorating course cost Bode the win, which would have cut the gap between him and the leader by 70 more points. I think they're probably right, but Bode acted like a gentleman and didn't bitch or blame anyone.

The overall title will come down to a battle between Miller, Raich and Kjus, all great all-rounders; Maier is out of it, nyaah nyaah nyaah. Speaking of Maier, I'm not alone in my opinion of him as a sour-grapeser; Daron thinks so too.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:11 AM on January 29, 2004

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