BORMIO, Italy, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Austria's Michael Walchhofer tamed a tough course in Bormio, Italy, in under 2 minutes Wednesday to win the men's World Cup downhill.
Walchhofer was clocked at 1 minute, 56.66 seconds and edged Silvan Zurbriggen of Switzerland, whose 1:59.74 was the only other skier to finish in under 2 minutes.
The win was the third for Walchhofer on the always-tough slopes at Bormio. But Zurbriggen's second was enough to put him 1 point ahead of Walchhofer in the overall downhill standings.
Chritsof Innerhofer of Italy took third with a 2:00.02. Bode Miller placed eighth and was one of three Americans in the top 20.
American World Cup rookie Travis Ganong said Bormio was particularly demanding and highly technical. "It's a real deal downhill, bumpy, fast, icy and dark," he said. "It is just tough skiing from top to bottom."
