BORMIO, Italy, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Austria's Stephan Eberharter, evidently recovered from a knee injury suffered last month, regained control of the overall World Cup standings Saturday with an authoritative victory in a men's downhill.
Eberharter, who had been struggling since coming back from a sprained knee sustained in Val d'Isere in early December, had clearly recaptured the form that led to his victories in the opening three downhills this season.
Storming down the long and sheer Stelvio course in 1 minute, 59.27 seconds, Eberharter finished .48 ahead of runnerup and teammate Michael Walchhofer, giving Austria its first victory in nine races.
Walchhofer, who seems to be this season's eternal bridesmaid, finished in 1:59.75, for the fifth second-place World Cup finish of his career. It was the third time this season that he finished second behind Eberharter.
Super-G world champion Daron Rahlves, who won another downhill here last month, was third in 2:00.04. Two weeks ago, Rahlves became the first American man ever to win in Bormio.
The victory boosted Eberharter into the overall lead once again, the Austrian having temporarily slipped off his throne last week when American Bode Miller won a giant slalom in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, to take the lead.
Eberharter missed three weeks of competition following his knee injury, including a downhill and super-G in Val Gardena and a giant slalom in Alta Badia before Christmas. He had suffered a slight lack of confidence on his skis upon his return to competition.
Miller, who excelled in the speed events this season since changing ski brands, finished eighth in 2:00.51.
Eberharter leads the overall standings with 655 points. Miller dropped to second on 610. The rivalry between the two promises a lot of fireworks before the end of the season. Eberharter has dominated the speed events, while Miller, a technical specialist, now races in all four disciplines but has failed to score any points in the slalom so far this year.
The day was marred by a crash involving A.J. Bear. The Aussie lost his balance on the final jump before the finish, diving forward off the jump and laying motionless on the snow as course workers and medics rushed to his aid.
Bear, who trains with the British team, was airlifted to hospital by helicopter. He suffered a concussion but was conscious. It was also believed he had a broken arm.
