ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP. Three weeks after having surgery on the left thumb, Didier Cuche seems to be ready for the final stretch to capture the small downhill globe. The Swiss, who captured the downhill here in 2010, posted the fastest time in 1:47:32 in the only men’s downhill training before Friday’s race in Kvitfjell, Norway. The winner of the Lauberhorn in Wengen, Klaus Kroell of Austria came within striking distance of the Swiss, 0.35 back, while super G world champion Christof Innerhofer was third, 0.65 back.

Slovenian and fourth place finisher of Wengen Andrej Jerman clocked the fourth best time in Thursday’s training, 0.91 behind, while Kroell’s countryman Joachim Puchner finished the training in fifth, 1.11 back.

Cuche's biggest competitor in the fight for the World Cup downhill title Austrian Michael Walchhofer was 17th, 1.76 behind the Swiss’ winning time.

The course on the “Olympiabakken” piste involves 36 gates and was set by Helmuth Schmalzl.

Friday’s downhill race is scheduled to start at 11:30 CET.

FISalpine.com
Thursday 10 March 2011

PROGRAM ALPINE SKI WORLD CUP KVIETFJELL

Friday, 11 March 2011
11.30 - Start 1st downhill

Saturday, 12 March 2011
11.30 - Start 2nd downhill

Sunday, 13 March 2011
11.00- Start super-G