Luxembourg’s Girardelli Wins World Cup Downhill

Marc Girardelli of Luxembourg conquered the tricky Hahnenkamm course today in winning a World Cup downhill race.

Girardelli was timed in 2 minutes, 1.25 seconds on a course covered with a fresh layer of snow. The course, which dropped 2,920 feet, was more than 2 miles long.

Michael Mair of Italy was second in 2:01.95. He was followed by Roman Rupp of Austria, who started 43rd. Rupp was clocked in 2:02.74.

Fourth was Peter Mueller of Switzerland in 2:02.85.

Favorites Pirmin Zurbriggen of Switzerland and Helmut Hoeflehner of Austria finished far back as the fresh snow slowed the course.

It was the 26th World Cup triumph for Girardelli, his first in downhill. He has won two slaloms this season.

Zurbriggen still held the lead in the season’s overall standings. Although he finished 16th in 2:04.06 and did not score a point, he has 165 points for the year.

Girardelli increased his point total to 137, solidifying his hold on second place.

Hoeflehner, winner of two downhills this season, finished 17th and stayed in fourth place behind Alberto Tomba of Italy, who does not race downhills. Tomba has 78 points and Hoeflehner 77.

In Grindelwald, Switzerland, defending champion Michela Figini of Switzerland won her second World Cup downhill ski race in 24 hours, defeating Carole Merle of France today by more than half a second.

Maria Walliser of Switzerland was third in the race down the new, tough Tschuggen course.