Austria's Patrick Ortlieb, built more like a football player than a skier, used size and strength to win the men's downhill Saturday in the World Alpine Skiing Championships.
Ortlieb won the 1992 Olympic downhill and his victory Saturday made the 28-year-old Austrian only the fifth man to win the downhill in skiing's two biggest events. The last was Bernhard Russi of Switzerland in the 1970 world championships and the 1972 Olympics.The 220-pound Austrian used his bulk to full advantage on the long, relatively flat Veleta course where gliding is needed more than guile and technique.
He finished in two minutes, 00.17 seconds, hitting a top speed of 80 mph. Italy's Kristian Ghedina was second in 2:00.44 and pre-race favorite Luc Alphand of France was third in 2:00.45.
"Sure, my weight is important on a course like this where gliding is so important," Ortlieb said. "But going into turns you must be athletic and be able to master your line."
Ortlieb prepared for the race the night before by devouring two large cheese fondues - Fondue Savoyarde. The cheese and white wine dish is traditional in the French Alps.
"I told the owner, if I win it's because I ate the fondue. If I lose it's because I ate the fondue," Ortlieb joked. Asked about his diet, he replied, "I have no diet, I eat what I want when I want."
The top three finishers skied in the first 10 spots and took advantage of good early conditions that broke down rapidly under the clear, sunny skies. After the first 15, the times began to drop markedly and skiers crossing the line often showed their unhappiness with their slowing times.
"I know what it's like. I've been disappointed before being knocked off the podium by a higher (starting) number," Ortlieb said.
The course was generally criticized for being too easy, although the medalists defended it. It offered only two major jumps and didn't allow many opportunities to make up for mistakes. And a heavy snowfall several days ago also slowed it, erasing an icy slope that racers found tricky in practice.
Ghedina, who won a silver in the combined at the 1991 world championships, said his second in the downhill meant more to him.
Two downhills remain - March 2-3 in Nagano, Japan, and the World Cup finals March 4-10 in Lillehammer, Norway.
Defending Olympic downhill champion Tommy Moe of the United States was 21st in 2:03.05, a reasonable finish as he battles back from a major knee injury a year ago. Defending world champion Urs Lehmann of Switzerland was 32nd in 2:03.98.
In the first two medal events of the championships earlier in the week, Isolde Kostner won gold in women's super-G and Atle Skaardal won the men's super-G.