Austria's Hannes Trinkl, 34, clinched the victory in the penultimate Downhill of the season in Kvitfjell, Norway. France's Claude Cretier, second, finished on a World Cup podium for the first time in his career. Eberharter, winner of the World Cup in this event, is outside the top five.     

Hannes Trinkl

In Salt Lake City, the Austrian team decided they could do without him, without Hannes Trinkl, the reigning World Champion in Downhill. In the Norwegian resort of Kvitfjell, one of the most experienced skiers on the circuit – Trinkl is 34 years old – proved them he deserved a place in the team as he claimed the penultimate Downhill of the season.

Hannes Trinkl, who earlier this season fractured clocked one minute 27.15 seconds on the piste that hosted the 1994 Olympic race and finished ahead of a surprising France's Claude Cretier. The Frenchman, who was wearing the bib number 26, clinched the first World Cup podium of his career. Italy's Kristian Ghedina, 32, and Swiss Franco Cavegn, 31, shared the third place 0.42 seconds adrift.

Austria's Stephan Eberharter, who has already secured the World Cup in Downhill, needed 44 points to be assured the overall victory in the World Cup over Norway's Kjetill-Andre Aamodt. The Austrian failed to do so today and will therefore have to wait for the Super Giant on Sunday to possibly celebrate the best season of his career.

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