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.

Stephan Eberharter

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.

Herman Maier come back !

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.

Daniel Zeueger

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.

AP, 18.01.2003 

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