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Erberharter Earns 28th Win in 2nd DH
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany — Janaury 31, 2004

Defending World Cup champion Stephan Eberharter, who won the fabled Hahnenkamm downhill a week ago, tore down the Kandahar race course Saturday to nip teammate Fritz Strobl by.09 for the 28th win of his career. An ailing Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, CA), second to Eberharter in the Hahnenkamm but battling a cold this week, made a mid-race mistake and finished 14th.

Eberharter, who has won the overall/DH/super G titles the last two seasons, had a winning time of 1:58.70 with Strobl timed in 1:58.79. Completing the podium was Italy's Alessandro Fattori (1:59.15).

Rahlves, who was second Friday in a downhill moved from Wengen, Switzerland, finished in 2:00.34 with Friedman 27th in 2:01.67 and Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) 28th in 2:01.86. Jake Fiala (Frisco, CO) didn't finish his run.

"I maxed myself out [Friday]," Rahlves said. "It was tough today. I made mistakes all the way. It was really rough-so tough when you're tired when you get in the start.

"I made a huge mistake," he said. "I didn't have the legs to pull it off. I'm glad I stayed in the course." It was the first time in five races Rahlves didn't finish in the top three.

He headed back to the team's hotel after the race to go back to bed and try to shake the cough that's been disrupting his sleep. "I've got to get to bed because tomorrow's important, too," he explained.

"It's unfortunate but it was a good run [of top-3s]. Daron's had a cold this week and I think he really pushed himself [Friday]-and today he was just out of gas," said Head Coach Phil McNichol.

MEN'S ALPINE WORLD CUP
Men's DH-2

  1. Stephan Eberharter, Austria, 1:58.70
  2. Fritz Strobl, Austria, 1:58.79
  3. Alessandro Fattori, Italy, 1:59.15
  4. Didier Defago, Switzerland, 1:59.32
  5. Hermann Maier, Austria, 1:59.49
14. Daron Rahlves, Sugar Bowl, Calif., 2:00.34
27. Bryon Friedman, Park City, Utah, 2:01.67
28. Bode Miller, Franconia, N.H., 2:01.86

DNF: Jake Fiala, Frisco, Colo.


Courtesy of US Ski Team