Swiss skier Didier Cuche wins World Cup downhill on Streif for 2nd win in 2 days

Cuche wins World Cup downhill on Streif

KITZBUEHEL, Austria — Didier Cuche of Switzerland won a men’s World Cup downhill on the Streif course on Saturday, one day after winning a super-G race.

Cuche sped down the 3,312 meter-course in 1 minute, 53.74 seconds for his fourth win of the season. It was the 35-year-old Swiss skier’s third victory at the classic downhill race after winning in 1998 and 2008.

Bode Miller was the fastest American finishing ninth, trailing Cuche by 1.16 seconds.

Cuche became only the third skier after Austrian greats Hermann Maier and Stephen Eberharter to win two Hahnenkamm races in one weekend.

Slovenia’s Andrej Sporn was 0.28 seconds back in second for his first career podium finish. Werner Heel of Italy took third, 0.39 behind.

“It’s incredible, I was thinking about winning the double yesterday,” Cuche said. “At the start, I was pretty relaxed and I knew I had to attack. I made no mistake so it was a huge relief to reach the finish.”

Austria’s Michael Walchhofer crashed just before entering the finishing section but was unhurt.

Carlo Janko of Switzerland finished 1.25 back in 11th and kept the lead in the overall standings ahead of Benjamin Raich of Austria, 793-743. Cuche is third with 726.