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WENGEN, Switzerland (AP) _ Bruno
Kernen climbed the top of the podium again for the first time in six
years Saturday, winning a World Cup downhill on home snow on the
famous Lauberhorn.
Kernen, who finished a promising third in Friday's downhill,
confidently stormed down the arduous 4,455-meter (2.8-mile) classic
Lauberhorn _ the longest and one of the most physically demanding
courses on the men's circuit _ in 2 minutes, 28.69 seconds. "I feel
like I have been reborn. It's too much for me to digest right now,"
Kernen said, his voice shaking. It marked his first victory since
winning the downhill at the 1997 world championships in Sestrieres
and his first World Cup win since clinching back-to-back downhill
seven years ago in Veysonnaz, again on home snow. "My emotions are
so raw," Kernen said. "My feelings run even deeper now than when I
won the worlds. "It's like in Salt Lake City last year but only 180
degrees the other way," said the Swiss, who completely flopped his
Olympic downhill and finished a disappointing 11th in the super-G.
Kernen cheered in the finish area after seeing his name light up the
top spot on the scoreboard, then wiped tears from his eyes after
World Cup downhill leader and Friday's winner Stephan Eberharter
crossed with a slower time, knowing his drought was finally over. It
marked the first time a Swiss skier has won in Wengen since William
Besse triumphed in 1994, and the first Swiss men's downhill victory
on the World Cup circuit since Didier Cuche won in Kitzbuehel in
1998. Austrian Michael Walchhofer was runnerup in 2:28.92, followed
by Eberharter, who placed third in 2:29.14. American Daron Rahlves,
second on Friday, was stopped midway down the course after Swiss
youngster Daniel Zueger crashed out ahead of him on the piste.
Rahlves was flown back to the top of the course by helicopter to
start again. But with tired legs, and his concentration interrupted,
Rahlves was unable to finish in the top five. |
