Rahlves rocks Lauberhorn

Daron Rahlves underlined his Olympic ambitions with a commanding victoryin the classic Lauberhorn race on Saturday, his third win out of six World Cup downhills this season. The 32-year-old Californian flyer outclassed the rest of the field to master the

Already crowned at home in Beaver Creek and in Bormio, Rahlves won Wengen's downhill in two minutes and 30.54 seconds.

Rahlves, who has now won nine downhills in his career, upstaged a trio of Austrians, including former world champion Michael Walchhofer and reigning Olympic champion Fritz Strobl.

ALPINE SKIING 2005-2006 Wengen Fritz Strobl

Image credit: Reuters

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Walchhofer, winner on the same 4.4-kms track last year, had to be content with second place, 0.40 seconds behind Rahlves.

Strobl, leader of the downhill standings, was third in 2:31.60 while former double Olympic champion Hermann Maier was fourth.

RAHLVES THE STAR

Outshone again by his American compatriot, Bode Miller was a shadow of the skier who dominated last season.

Miller finished 2:41 behind Rahlves, outside the top 10 and in the same time as veteran Italian Kristian Ghedina, who was skiing the Lauberhorn for the last time.

Miller, who got in hot water this week over a television interview in which he referred to being under the influence of alchohol at the start of some races, had shown signs of a return to form in Friday's super-combined before straddling a gate and being disqualified.

ALPINE SKIING 2005-2006 Wengen - Bode Miller

Image credit: Reuters

Rahlves, who has often lived in the shadow of Miller, said the course had suited him perfectly.

"I felt good, a good flow. It was a solid run. I'm here now thanks to a great job in the middle section," Rahlves told reporters.

"The preparation of the piste here was insane, so good. Nice and smooth at the top, then just right in the middle section and down the bottom," he added.

ONE MORE CHANCE AT GOLD

Narrowly beaten in Wengen by Stefan Eberharter three years ago, the American has now added another of skiing's most prestigious races to his personal record after winning in Kitzbuehel in 2003.

His next target will be winning a first Olympic medal and given his consistency he will be one of the favourites, especially having won in Sestriere two years ago.

"I'm really in the form of my life," added the 31-year-old. "It's a very important win because of the history here, the landscape, the crowd.

"I tried to do everything as perfectly as I could today and I almost did."

The American's performance was all the more exceptional as Walchhofer, winner of a downhill in Val d'Isere in December, had looked impressive on a piste he knows to perfection.

ALPINE SKIING 2005-2006 Wengen Daron Rahlves

Image credit: dpa

The Altenmarkt skier had clocked the fastest time in Friday's super-combined downhill section.

He said: "I made a couple of mistakes at the top and to finish second in such conditions is a big satisfaction.

"My main goals this season were to win in Kitzbuehel and at the Olympics so everything is going according to plan."

Austria's Benjamin Raich, winner of the super-combined on Friday, still leads the overall standings. He has 706 points to Walchhofer's 520. Rahlves moves clear above Miller into third.

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