Disappointment in Wengen

Trinkl, Eberharter and Strobl celebrate an Austrian day in Switzerland Keystone

The 72nd edition of Switzerland's legendary Lauberhorn race has ended in disappointment for the home favourites, with arch-rivals Austria dominating Saturday's contest.

Current world rankings leader Stephan Eberharter continued his impressive season by winning the Wengen event in a breathtakingly fast time of 2’28″41.

Fellow Austrian Hannes Trinkl came in second to complete an impressive comeback from injury. The reigning downhill world champion was competing in his first race in almost a year.

The Austrian joy and Swiss misery were increased by the 2000 Lauberhorn winner, Josef Strobl, who finished third to ensure an all-Austrian podium at Switzerland’s biggest ski race.

Every skier’s dream

“It’s great to win my first classic downhill,” said a delighted Eberharter afterwards. “I think it’s every skier’s dream to win here in Wengen and I’m certainly no different. I will never forget this day.”

Following his own dream win in the Adelboden giant slalom last week, Swiss hopeful Didier Cuche suffered a rude awakening on the Lauberhorn when he had to settle for 22nd place.

“My dream certainly didn’t come true here in Wengen,” Cuche told swissinfo in the Lauberhorn finish area. “But that’s sport. The races don’t always go the same way and that’s what makes it interesting.

“I don’t know exactly where I went wrong today,” Cuche continued, “I thought I had a good line, but it was very hot and the snow at the start was not as hard as it was in training.”

Cavegn best Swiss

Franco Cavegn, Switzerland’s most consistent performer in the downhill this season fared slightly better – finishing in 12th place, while fellow Swiss team-members Ambrosi Hoffmann and Bruno Kernen came in 13th and joint 14th respectively.

“At the top of the course things went very well for me,” Cavegn told swissinfo, “but I had a problem at the Bröckli (bridge) and I couldn’t maintain my speed. It’s bad that none of the Swiss guys were able to be at the front today but we’re looking ahead now and hoping to do better next week.”

Swift Swiss revenge?

Next weekend’s action offers the Swiss downhill team the chance to get their own back on Austrian snow, when the World Cup circus moves on to the classic Streif race in Kitzbühel.

“Exactly,” agreed Didier Cuche with a smile, “The Austrians won here and I’m going to Kitzbühel to take my revenge.”

Before then though the Austrians will have another chance to shine in Wengen, with Sunday seeing the Swiss resort play host to a World Cup slalom race. The slalom discipline is easily the Swiss team’s biggest weakness and, if last year is anything to go by, could produce another uncomfortable day for the home supporters.

In 2001, the Austrian team ran away with the Wengen slalom, taking all of the top five positions.

by Mark Ledsom, Wengen