Cuche achieves best time again

Didier Cuche from Switzerland achieved best time in today’s second practice run repeating his performance of yesterday’s first training session.

The Swiss team obviously find the Val Gardena downhill piste to their liking this year. Didier Cuche achieved best time twice and seems likely to achieve his first podium position in his long career on the Saslong. “Everything has been going very well, however there is not much time difference between any of us. The first six skiers are only divided by 39/100. This won’t change on Saturday.” Cuche says. Asked about his chances in tomorrow’s Super-G, Cuche answers: “In America things went well for me in the Super-G and I hope this will continue even here in Val Gardena. “

Cuche won the second practice run with 1:57.09 minutes, finishing in front of his compatriot Ambrosi Hoffmann who trailed him by only 11/100. They were followed closely by Antonie Deneriaz (+0,34 seconds), Marco Büchel (+0,33 seconds), Michael Walchhofer (+0,34 seconds) and Hermann Maier (+0,39 seconds). The best Italian skier during today’s practice run was Kurt Sulzenbacher ranked 13th.

All skiers agreed that the Saslong is more selective than ever. Particularly the Ciaslat meadows are very uneven making it very difficult to keep an ideal line. Marco Büchel, last year’s winner on the Saslong, said : “When you enter the Ciaslat meadows it seems like entering a mogul piste at 100 kmph.”