CHAMONIX, France - Bode Miller won a super-combi Sunday for his fourth World Cup victory this season and took the lead in the overall standings.

The American skier finished in a combined time of 2 minutes, 34.58 seconds after winning the downhill run. Miller replaced Benjamin Raich of Austria at the top of the World Cup overall standings.

"I was wondering this morning if I could ski," Miller said. "I fell Saturday during the slalom practice. I have a bruised left hip."

Slalom specialist Ivica Kostelic of Croatia moved from eighth after the downhill to finish second, 0.45 behind Miller. Rainer Schoenfelder of Austria was third in 2:35.92.

Miller made the difference in the downhill in the upper section of the course, ahead of the field by the second stage.

Miller leads the overall standings with 967 points, moving up from third. Raich is second with 905, followed by downhill leader Didier Cuche of Switzerland with 878.

Super-combi world champion Daniel Albrecht made a mistake halfway in the second leg to finish ninth, 2.08 seconds off the pace.

Jean-Baptiste Grange, who leads the slalom standings, had a poor downhill run, trailing Miller by 3.33 seconds in the first leg. The French skier was sixth, 1.82 behind Miller, despite getting the fastest time in the slalom.

"I gave my everything in the slalom, but I lost too much time in the downhill," Grange said. "Miller is very strong."

Raich was quickly out of contention, trailing Miller by 3.13 seconds after the downhill.

Miller increased his lead in the super-combi standings to 90 points over Grange.

By JEAN-LUC COURTHIAL
Associated Press Writer
January 27, 2008

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