Swiss World Super G Champion Didier Cuche lulled the rest of the field into an almost false sense of security as he won the 4th Men's World Cup Super G in Kitzbuehel. In one of the most closely fought races of the modern era, Cuche snatched the win from Michael Walchhofer who had only just arrived in the finish area with the magical number one up against his name. As Walchhofer undid his boots and soaked in the atmosphere of leading at Kitzbuehel, all the split times posted by Cuche on the Rolex clock looked good for the Austrian. “I could hear all the Austrians, and maybe some of the Swiss screaming as I came down the final straight, so I knew that maybe it would be a good race for me,” he admitted afterwards. “I knew that his (Didier Cuche's) times up to the Hausbergkannte were a little behind and that was good!” at this point Cuche jumped in to apologise for cutting short his happiness! Georg Streitberger placed third a mere hundredth behind his illustrious compatriot.

The conditions were almost picture perfect and this showed in the closeness of the racing. The snow conditions and perfect visual ability created the perfect conditions for racing. Last year's winner, Klaus Kroell was back in 17th spot but just a mere second behind with the top thirty all packed in to just over a second and a half behind Cuche! This closeness of the racing meant that the Rolex timing was tested to its extreme exactness - three pairs of racers all set the same time in the first thirty finishers.

Andrej Jerman set the early pace from number 4 and Canadian Erik Guay put in a long overdue performance that lifted him for a while on to the podium but he would eventually finish in fifth behind Jerman. Michael Walchhofer, starting 16, used all his experience to post a faster time that the Slovenian but did not have long to enjoy the leading position before Cuche dislodged him. 29 year old Georg Streitberger came down at the end of the top seeds and almost stole second from Walchhofer. “I skied well and was surprised in the finish, I saw I was third and could not believe it,” explained the delighted Austrian.

Cuche's run from the Hausbergkannte down to the finish was jaw dropping. “It was almost too perfect he admitted afterwards. “Had a ski hit a rut and not carved around the gate I would have been in trouble.” The exactness required by the top racers as they carve down the steepness of sections of the course is reflected by all the components of the course: Exact timings and precise measurements!

While the Swiss celebrated winning in Kitzbuehel, four Austrians made it into the top ten giving the crowd cause for celebration. The good natured crowds were united in their appreciation of the efforts the racers were putting in coming down the Streif. While Rolex Testimonee Lara Gut watched from the comfort of the Ziel Haus VIP Hospitality, this was a Classic race with a big C. The roar that greeted Michael Walchhofer's Number 1 when he crossed the line was reminiscent of another Rolex Great: The legendary Hermann Maier.

The main attraction comes in the morning with the 70th Hahnenkamm Downhill.

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Anna Maria Gregorini
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Email: anna-maria@kpms.com

Sabrina Zumkehr
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Email: sabrina@kpms.com

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