Bode Miller finishes 5th in super-G skiing on sore ankle; Svindal wins race ahead of Janka

Bode Miller places 5th skiing on sore ankle

VAL GARDENA, Italy — Bode Miller fought off a sore ankle to finish fifth in a World Cup super-G Friday, while defending overall World Cup winner Aksel Lund Svindal posted his first victory since returning from a lower leg injury.

Miller is still regaining his fitness after skipping summer training and was satisfied with his performance. More than fitness, it was the ankle holding him back.

“I had a little mistake on top where I went low — that’s on that ankle side and that kind of hurt a little bit and was partly why I lost time up there — but I skied aggressive,” Miller said.

Svindal covered the 1.5-mile Saslong course in 1 minute, 38.35 seconds for the 13th World Cup victory of his career. Carlo Janka of Switzerland was second, 0.12 seconds behind, and Patrick Staudacher of Italy was third, 0.17 back.

Miller was 0.69 seconds behind and said his early start position affected his finish.

“I think the course is significantly slower when there’s no sunlight in the Ciaslat,” he said, referring to the course’s twisty midsection. “That really makes a big difference, because that’s the only technical, turny and real bumpy part of the course.

“This is one of those hills where start position matters, but generally you want to be later.”

Miller has finished fourth once and fifth twice this season and he’s eager to get back onto the podium.

“The skiing is fine. Like I said, my same run with a more favorable start position today I think wins the race,” he said. “There’s nothing really you can do. You can’t change too much. You don’t have a choice on that stuff, it’s just bad luck.”

Miller’s World Cup start list ranking took a hit when he skipped the final four stops last season.

Andrew Weibrecht of Lake Placid, N.Y., was the next American in 15th, Marco Sullivan of Squaw Valley, Calif., was 21st and Erik Fisher of Middleton, Idaho, was 27th.

A record five Americans finished in the top 10 in the downhill here last year and the team is hoping for a repeat Saturday.

“Obviously that’s the goal,” Sullivan said. “It’s tough. A lot of guys are skiing really well right now. I hope to count a few of us in that group but we’ll see.”

Ted Ligety is skipping this stop to prepare for giant slalom and slalom races in nearby Alta Badia on Sunday and Monday.

Injuries have been common on the ski circuit this season and Francois Bourque of Canada became the latest victim when he likely tore the ACL in his left knee after landing a jump awkwardly during the super-G.

Skiing with a broken rib, super-G world champion Didier Cuche of Switzerland veered off course early in his run.

Svindal, meanwhile, had to take five weeks off the snow and skip a race in Levi, Finland, in November after bruising himself in preseason training.

“When something occurs you just have to work on a new plan and adapt to it,” he said. “I was going to have to use my first races back to get in shape and I’ve been building up my form.”

Janka moved back to the top of the overall standings with 540 points, 25 ahead of Austrian rival Benjamin Raich, who placed ninth. Svindal moved ahead of Cuche into third with 388 points.

Janka won three consecutive races in Beaver Creek earlier this month, then failed to finish all three races in Val d’Isere, France, last weekend.

“It’s a big satisfaction to be back on the podium,” he said. “It’s difficult to describe what happened in Val d’Isere. I’ve never gone out in three races like that.”