World Cup Skiing : Zurbriggen Regains Lead, Doesn’t Like Chances

Pirmin Zurbriggen regained the lead in the World Cup overall standings, but doesn’t think he can hold off Alberto Tomba.

Zurbriggen finished 12th Sunday as Swiss teammate Karl Alpiger won the final men’s downhill of the season Sunday at Are, Sweden. Zurbriggen clinched his second straight downhill title and edged ahead of Tomba, who had taken the overall lead by winning a slalom Saturday.

“I think Tomba will win,” Zurbriggen said. “Tomba has a 70% chance of winning. There are two slalom races, one giant slalom and one super-giant slalom race left and that favors him.”

Zurbriggen placed second in the combination, which included Saturday’s slalom, to take a lead of 260-249 over Tomba. Austria’s Guenter Mader won the combined.

Zurbriggen races in all disciplines, but is best in the downhill. Tomba has five slalom and three giant slalom victories this season.

“I have so many races and I can never rest like Tomba can,” Zurbriggen said. “He can prepare better for his slalom competitions and that is an advantage for him. But I like to ski in all events and I will continue doing it.”

Alpiger, winner of only one previous World Cup downhill, clocked 1 minute 44.48 seconds down the Olympia course, which was shortened to 2,890 meters because of strong winds and poor visibility.

Danilo Sbardelotto of Italy finished second in 1:44.97, and Franz Heinzer of Switzerland was third in 1:45.08.

Michael Mair of Italy was fourth in the downhill in 1:45.27. He needed to win and have Zurbriggen finish 13th or worse to claim the downhill title.