Alphand Falters In Downhill

On the opening day of the World Cup finals, downhill champion Luc Alphand finished a distant ninth in a men’s downhill that was won by Austrian Fritz Strobl.

Alphand, 31, was expected to increase his lead in the overall standings over Kjetil Andre Aamodt of Norway. He did, but by only five points, leaving him with a 122-point advantage (1,101-979).

In 60-degree weather, Strobl captured his third downhill win of the season while Alphand had his worst downhill result.

Strobl finished in 1 minute, 38.29 seconds, leading Austria to five of the first six places. In the women’s overall champion, Pernilla Wiberg of Sweden accomplished a longtime personal goal, posting her first World Cup downhill victory.

American Hilary Lindh, perhaps skiing her final World Cup downhill, finished ninth in 1:44.15.