Downhill: Statements from the podium

Comments from Michael Walchhofer (AUT; 1st), Didier Cuche (SUI; 2nd) und Scott Macartney (USA; 3rd).

Michael Walchhofer: “I have to admit, it seems as if I perform better under pressure. It’s premature to say if this win will boost the morale of the Austrian ski team but I certainly hope so. It means a lot for me personally to be able to add the win in Gardena-Gröden to my list of classics. This course is by far the best to exploit my strengths as a glider. I emerged from the Camel Humps with a lot of speed and thus I struggled to keep my line into Ciaslat.â€

Didier Cuche: “A first and a second placing in two days, not a bad outcome. I couldn’t have asked for more. I knew that I would be up against Walchhofer and Guay and I was right. Walchhofer was hard to beat as he skied a perfect race on the upper part of the run. All this gliding makes this course harder for me and that is why these podiums taste double sweet.â€

Scott Macartney: “Our team has a few podiums to show so far and it is testimony to our hard work. There are also Sullivan, Nyman and Miller. I miss Bode during training, but the overall team spirit is excellent. My third podium is really important as I had a bad fall in 2003 here in Gardena-Gröden leading to an injured knee. The course was most demanding but also most fascinating between the Camel Humps and Ciaslat. The speed is unbelievable and a lot of the race is spent mid-air. We will return to the USA after the races in Bormio. Christmas? We’ll spend it in Trento or Innsbruck.â€