Fog, Snowstorm Force One-Day Delay in Men’s World Cup Downhill Racing
Weather interfered with the opening of the men’s downhill season Sunday as fog and a sudden snowstorm forced a one-day postponement of the men’s World Cup downhill ski race.
On the famed Oreiller-Killy run Sunday, 17 men started their runs, although most were hampered by the foggy conditions that had delayed the start almost two hours.
Switzerland’s Daniel Mahrer held the lead when racing was stopped, clocking 2 minutes, 4.07 seconds on the 3,500-meter course. Markus Weismeier of West Germany was second and world downhill champion Peter Mueller of Switzerland was third.
Maria Walliser and Chantal Bournissen had turned the Swiss fortunes around with victories in the two women’s races here after the Swiss were shut out in Italy.
The 20-year-old Bournissen started from the 36th position Saturday to lead several unknowns from the second and third group into the top 10. A sudden change in the weather made it faster after the favorites from the first group had finished.
West German’s Marina Kiehl was second. Another West German, Ulrike Stangassinger, started 50th out of 61 competitors and finished third.
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