Italians fastest on home course test run at Bormio
A cautious training run ahead of what many consider the toughest downhill of the World Cup circuit saw the home team excel at Bormio Italy this morning (Dec. 27). German Stephan Keppler recorded the fastest time down the Stelvio speed track, but would have been disqualified for missing a gate had it been race day. Matteo Marsaglia and Peter Fill, both Italians, had the next two fastest times respectively. The race is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 29.
Adrien Theaux of France, Didier Cuche of Switzerland and Klaus Kroell of Austria were all among the fastest guys as might have been expected. Patrick Kueng, a Swiss, was fourth fastest and his teammate Vitus Lueoend punched in eighth fastest.
Erik Guay led a strong Canadian showing in ninth with Robbie Dixon 14th. Bode Miller led the US as is custom in tenth place. Marco Sullivan, 40th, was the next best US showing with Wiley Maple 43rd.
Marsaglia from earlier this season by Gepa
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS – FIRST TRAINING (PARTIAL)
| Rank | Bib | FIS Code | Name | Year | Nation | Total Time |
| 1 | 6 | 201606 | KEPPLER Stephan | 1983 | GER | 2:01.15 |
| 2 | 29 | 293550 | MARSAGLIA Matteo | 1985 | ITA | 2:01.49 |
| 3 | 28 | 292455 | FILL Peter | 1982 | ITA | 2:01.56 |
| 4 | 17 | 511139 | KUENG Patrick | 1984 | SUI | 2:01.63 |
| 5 | 15 | 192746 | THEAUX Adrien | 1984 | FRA | 2:01.70 |
| 6 | 20 | 510030 | CUCHE Didier | 1974 | SUI | 2:01.96 |
| 7 | 12 | 50753 | KROELL Klaus | 1980 | AUT | 2:02.01 |
| 8 | 13 | 102263 | GUAY Erik | 1981 | CAN | 2:02.63 |
| 9 | 21 | 532431 | MILLER Bode | 1977 | USA | 2:02.64 |
| 10 | 11 | 510727 | DEFAGO Didier | 1977 | SUI | 2:02.65 |
| 11 | 26 | 191591 | BERTRAND Yannick | 1980 | FRA | 2:02.73 |
| 12 | 7 | 501076 | OLSSON Hans | 1984 | SWE | 2:02.97 |
| 13 | 23 | 102961 | DIXON Robbie | 1985 | CAN | 2:03.11 |
| 14 | 5 | 291459 | PARIS Dominik | 1989 | ITA | 2:03.12 |
| 15 | 3 | 192932 | FAYED Guillermo | 1985 | FRA | 2:03.15 |
| 16 | 22 | 50742 | REICHELT Hannes | 1980 | AUT | 2:03.19 |
| 17 | 19 | 421328 | SVINDAL Aksel Lund | 1982 | NOR | 2:03.21 |
| 18 | 27 | 50858 | STREITBERGER Georg | 1981 | AUT | 2:03.24 |
| 18 | 2 | 510767 | HOFFMANN Ambrosi | 1977 | SUI | 2:03.24 |
| 20 | 4 | 102271 | HUDEC Jan | 1981 | CAN | 2:03.26 |
| 21 | 16 | 511383 | FEUZ Beat | 1987 | SUI | 2:03.57 |
| 22 | 18 | 51327 | PUCHNER Joachim | 1987 | AUT | 2:03.60 |
| 23 | 10 | 51005 | SCHEIBER Mario | 1983 | AUT | 2:03.68 |
| 24 | 25 | 560447 | SPORN Andrej | 1981 | SLO | 2:03.81 |
| 25 | 1 | 292514 | HEEL Werner | 1982 | ITA | 2:04.18 |
| 26 | 14 | 51215 | BAUMANN Romed | 1986 | AUT | 2:04.21 |
| 27 | 9 | 510890 | ZURBRIGGEN Silvan | 1981 | SUI | 2:04.71 |
| 28 | 24 | 511529 | GISIN Marc | 1988 | SUI | 2:10.09 |
About the Author: Hank McKee
