Didier Cuche wins WCup super-G; Bode Miller loses time up top, finishes 17th

Cuche wins WCup super-G, Miller 17th in Austria

KITZBUEHEL, Austria — Didier Cuche of Switzerland won a World Cup super-G race on Friday, while Bode Miller finished 17th.

The super-G world champion shot down the 2,260-meter Streifalm course in 1 minute, 17.94 seconds, beating Austrians Michael Walchhofer by 0.28 and Streitberger by 0.29.

Miller lost time at the top of his run but was faster on the lower section to finish 0.81 behind. The top American finishers were Andrew Weibrecht and Marco Sullivan, who tied for 11th.

Cuche earned his third victory of the season and 12th overall.

“It took a long time, but I really enjoy winning here,” said Cuche, who became the first Swiss skier to win a super-G in Kitzbuehel. “I got that good feeling from the start of the season back in Wengen last week.”

Cuche won the season-opening giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, and a downhill in Lake Louise, Alberta.

He won thanks to a strong finish. Cuche was 0.29 behind Walchhofer going into the lower section, but chose the right line for the highest speed.

“I was almost too perfect as I came very close to the gate,” he said. “Just a small bump there and I would have straddled it. I have missed several wins here in recent years by a single mistake, so I am very happy to come through so well this time.”

Carlo Janka of Switzerland trailed Cuche by 1.02 but kept the lead in the overall standings with 769 points.

Walchhofer, who tops the discipline standings ahead of Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal, was “very satisfied” despite just missing out on a second super-G title after winning in Val d’Isere in December.

Streitberger said some adjustments to his equipment had made him faster.

“I changed some minor things in Bormio and I feel much better since,” the Austrian said. “But I am still very surprised to finish third here.”

Cuche said he would take “a lot of positive energy” into Saturday’s downhill race, the highlight of the traditional Hahnenkamm event.

“I just loving race here,” Cuche said. “It’s always a lot of fun. It’s the hardest hill in the World Cup.”