SOELDEN, Austria, 27 October 2003 — American Bode Miller staked his claim as the racer to beat this year, leaving his rivals far behind to snatch victory in the season-opening World Cup giant slalom yesterday.
The world champion and overwhelming pre-race favorite won by a massive margin of 1.12 seconds after clocking the fastest times in both race legs.
Leading after the first run by a slim nine hundredths of a second, Miller let rip in the second down the treacherous Rettenbach course for a combined time of two minutes 9.58 seconds.
France’s Frederic Covili, a champion here two years ago and runner-up last year, stormed into second position while Joel Chenal wrapped up a successful day at this high-altitude Tyrolean resort for France by taking third place in a time of 2:10.76. It was Chenal’s first podium in four years.
Miller’s spectacular win makes him the clear favorite for winning the overall World Cup crown this year — something he desperately wants to achieve.
“The overall World Cup is a tough one to talk about after the first race. I wish they’d give it to me already,” he said. “But I’m relaxed and ready to win a lot of races.”
The American, who unusually competes in all of the sport’s five disciplines and came runner-up overall last year to Austrian Stephan Eberharter, would be the first American overall champion since Phil Mahre in 1983.
Austria’s Hermann Maier, starting a season for the first time since a motorcycle accident in August 2001 nearly cost him a leg, ended in 16th place and three seconds off Miller’s pace.
