Austrian contingent in fine fettle ahead of women's downhill

Regina Sterz face tough competition from fellow nationals For a second day running, Regina Sterz headed a strong Austrian contingent in topping times in training for the women's downhill, scheduled for the weekend.Sterz timed 1min 53.01sec down the 3km-long Streicher course to finish 0.16sec ahead of teammate Anna Fenniger, with Swiss racer Marianne Kaufmann-Abderhalden in third at 0.36sec.
"It worked out well for me again today, just like yesterday," beamed Sterz. "I'll take that with me into the next few days and hope to keep this up."
Sterz insisted that she was not now the favourite for the downhill.
"Others were always on the podium so I don't see myself as favourite," she said. "I just like this downhill and I'll continue to do what I've been doing up to now."
Another Austrian, Andrea Fischbacher, was in fourth, with teammates Stefanie Moser and reigning world downhill champion Elisabeth Goergl also finishing in the top seven to give the host nation high hopes of a good podium showing come Sunday's race.
"Some sections were not as good as I wanted to, but I'm alright," said Goergl, slowly coming back into top form.
"I'm excited for tomorrow. The slope's good and the snow's getting better and better."
The women now compete in the super-combined on Friday, comprising the aggregate times from one slalom and one downhill run, before a last downhill training run on Saturday, 24 hours before the race proper.
Germany's Maria Hoefl-Riesch was fifth at 0.55sec and Slovenia's Tina Maze, who on Tuesday won the world super-G title here in the opening event of the two-week worlds - albeit on a different slope - was 10th, 1.20sec adrift.
After the Planai course used for the super-G had come under fire for variable snow conditions, Maze said she was pleased colder temperatures had hardened the snow base.
"It's good, it's a nice slope," said Maze. "I'm happy it's getting icier.
"I'm happy with the second training and I'm looking forward to tomorrow's race."
The world championships got off to a terrible start for the women when US star Lindsey Vonn, the reigning Olympic downhill champion, had a horror crash in the super-G which saw her suffer a badly injured knee that requires surgery, bringing a premature end to her season.
Attempting to filling her void for the US women's team is Julia Mancuso, who won a bronze in the super-G.
After admitting to still feeling the after-affects of that podium showing, Mancuso came in 12th on the second run, at 1.52sec.

Source: AFP