honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 6:47 a.m., Sunday, February 3, 2008

Skiing: Bode Miller wins super-combi event in France

Associated Press

VAL D'ISERE, France — Bode Miller clinched his third super-combi World Cup title with a win today after his closest competitor failed to finish the second leg.

Jean-Baptiste Grange's misstep gave Miller the win in the discipline standings before the American finished with a combined time of 2 minutes, 18.45 seconds.

"When I'm at 100 percent in the downhill, it gives me more maneuvering room over my opponents," Miller said. "I can then adjust in the slalom."

Miller won his fifth World Cup event of the season and increased his lead in the overall World Cup standings. Miller also won the super-combi title in 2003 and 2004.

Grange was second in the super-combi standings before the race, the only skier who could prevent Miller from winning the discipline's crystal globe.

The Frenchman trailed Miller by 2.77 seconds after the downhill run and pushed himself hard in the second leg. But Grange made two mistakes in the upper section during the slalom.

"I was not in a good rhythm," Grange said. "To skid off the course can happen. But it's due more to fatigue than pressure. I haven't had a day off since January 1."

Ivica Kostelic of Croatia, trailing by 2.26 seconds in the first leg, had the fastest time in the slalom and finished second, 0.38 behind Miller. Natko Zrncic-Dim of Croatia was third.

Miller won the super-combi title with 410 points, ahead of Kostelic with 256. Daniel Albrecht of Switzerland was third with 245 after finishing seventh, and Grange was fourth with 220.

This season, Miller won the Bormio and Wengen downhills, the Kitzbuehel combined, and the Chamonix super-combined.

Miller leads the overall World Cup standings with 1,067 points after 28 races. Benjamin Raich of Austria follows with 945, ahead of downhill leader Didier Cuche of Switzerland with 882.

"There are still four or five guys who can win the overall title," said Miller, who last won the overall in 2005.