Final training run sets the stage for men's Lake Louise downhill

Final training run sets the stage for men’s Lake Louise downhillThe stage is set for the World Cup speed season to get under way in Canada this weekend, with the first of 10 downhills on the calendar scheduled on Saturday and the first super G on Sunday.

Friday’s trip down the mellow, perfectly prepared Lake Louise course was the third and final training run of the week. Kjetil Andre Aamodt of Norway ended up the fastest, but that means little as the world’s best skiers stood up well before the finish line, positioning themselves for the best spots in Saturday’s start order.

Americans Bode Miller and Steve Nyman finished fifth and sixth in the run, and Scott Macartney was eighth. Miller won two of the middle splits, but stood up and carved turns before the finish. Also on the American team, Erik Fisher won the last unassigned bib after he beat Kevin Francis by 17 hundredths of a second.

Weather forecasts call for snow and possibly freezing rain tonight and continuing into the morning.

Miller, who won both races at Lake Louise last season, continued his verbal assault on the anti-doping authorities, telling a group of reporters that he has been singled out for testing since beginning his campaign in October.

Claude Cretier of France started 64th and had a bad fall, injuring his neck and head, according to an organizing committee release. Organizers confirmed that he has a concussion, and he has been transported to nearby Banff, Alberta, for further observation. He was released later Friday night.

Among the other Americans, Daron Rahlves finished 15th, Chris Beckmann 38th, Marco Sullivan 42nd and Justin Johnson 55th.

Aksel Lund Svindal was disqualified for wearing a suit that didn’t meet air permeability guidelines.