World Cup leader Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) was off the podium for the first time in a speed race this season Saturday, but fattened his points in a downhill won by Austrian Werner Franz. Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, CA) tied for seventh in the 30-degree weather while Hermann Maier of Austria was 26th.

Miller's performance was the best by an American on the Oreiller-Killy course since AJ Kitt won the opening downhill of the 1992 Olympic season.

Franz, skiing second in the sunny, 30-degree weather, was timed in 1:57.51 for the second World Cup victory of his career, edging Marco Buechel of Liechtenstein by .07. while Miller, running 23rd after winning the first two downhills of the season - at Lake Louise and a week ago at the VISA Birds of Prey DH in Beaver Creek, Colo., finished fourth in 1:58.09. Rahlves tied Frenchman Antoine Deneriaz (1:58.27) with J.J. Johnson (Park City, UT) 37th and Scott Macartney (Redmond, WA) 46th.

"Personal best for Bode and 'D' in Val d'Isere, so that's a big plus on this hill," said Head Coach Phil McNichol. "They did a good job...a few mistakes here and there, but they did a good job.

"Daron thought he skied well and he was happy with his performance, and I'd agree. Bode was fast in training [Friday] but made a little mistake at the bottom; he didn't think it cost that much but we'll have to go to the replay. It may have cost him the podium, but it's great to see him have a mistake and still be fourth. And Justin Johnson was on pace to qualify - he did such a good job - but he's been sick, bit of the flu, and he's just healthy again and he ran out of gas at the bottom, missed top-30 by [.65] but he had to throw his skis sideways at the Compression jump and so he dumped speed, and didn't have the go-go to muscle it out...and Scotty mac dumped some speed up-top, going into the longest flat, and that was too much to make-up.

"Overall, though, after three weekends of downhills, it was a good day for the guys," McNichol said. "In general, I'm happy. Now we're looking for a good race in giant slalom; Daron's chomping to get it done and the guys are ready." The U.S. Ski Team will start six men Sunday in GS: Miller, Rahlves, Dane Spencer (Boise, ID), Erik Schlopy (Park City, UT), Jimmy Cochran (Keene, NH) and Jake Zamansky (Aspen, CO).

After eight races, Miller - who has won four times - has 530 points and is first overall and in the downhill standings. Austrian Michael Walchhofer, third in all three DHs, is runnerup overall and in the downhill standings. Maier dropped to third overall while Rahlves is third in DH and fifth overall. After Sunday's GS, the men run slalom Monday night in Sestriere, Italy, and then head to Val Gardena, Italy, for the traditional downhill and super G.

In a related development, McNichol said Bryon Friedman (Park City, UT), who was seventh behind Miller and Rahlves 1-2 in an historic DH finish Dec. 3 in Beaver Creek, was expected to leave a Grenoble hospital Sunday after suffering an infection in his right leg, apparently stemming from a crash in training at Lake Louise. Antibiotics and three days in the hospital appeared to be solving the problem, the coach said.

MEN'S ALPINE WORLD CUP
49th Criterium de la Premiere Neige
Val d'Isere, FRA - Dec. 11, 2004
Men's DH

1. Werner Franz, Austria, 1:57.51
2. Marco Buechel, Liechtenstein, 1:57.58
3. Michael Walchhofer, Austria, 1:58.06
4. Bode Miller, Franconia, N.h., 1:58.09
5. Bruno Kernen, Switzerland, 1:58.19

7T. Daron Rahlves, Sugar Bowl, Calif., 1:58.27
37. J.J. Johnson, Park City, Utah, 2:00.40
46. Scott Macartney, Redmond, Wash., 2:00.92

— Courtesy of US Ski Team