Kristian Ghedina’s predictions were spot-on. Austrian Michael Walchhofer was above all other contestants in today’s first training run, which concluded with a second placed Italian skier Kurt Sulzenbacher. Good third rank for the American Marco Sullivan, who could turn out to be a very able outsider in these two days of World Cup. As for other favorites, Didier Cuche placed sixth, Ambrosi Hoffmann seventh, Marco Buechel eighth and Eric Guay ninth. Among the other Italian skiers were Patrick Staudacher (14th) and further Werner Heel (31st), Walter Girardi (34th), Roland Fischnaller (38th), Peter Fill (40th), Stefan Thanei (43rd), Christof Innerhofer (49th), Silvano Varettoni (62nd), Michael Gufler (67th) and Alex Happacher (68th).