Cuche second again

Cuche gives a joyful shout after his performace in Garmisch on Sunday Keystone Archive

In an alpine race interrupted by rain, Switzerland's Didier Cuche finished second in Sunday's world cup Super-G race in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Stephan Eberharter of Austria, who has dominated the season’s speed events, edged Cuche out of the top spot in the last super-G before the Winter Games.

Andreas Schifferer, also of Austria, finished third on Sunday.

Eberharter clocked 1:22.11 with a nearly faultless run down the Kandahar piste in the German Alps resort. Cuche was a close second in 1:22.13, his fourth podium finish in as many super-Gs this winter. Schifferer came in at 1:22.30.

Some of the Super-G downhill skiers were unable to compete because of the rain; however, their performance had not been expected to affect the winners’ results in the men’s competition.

The race jury decided that the results of the super-G would count, because more than half of the 63 competitors had finished the race.

Eberharter’s win at Garmisch puts him in an excellent position for the upcoming Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Cuche, the reigning Olympic super-G silver medallist, said after Saturday’s result, in which he also finished second, that he has been pleased with his performance in Garmisch.

swissinfo with agencies