BORMIO, Italy, 6 February 2005 — Bode Miller’s pre-race tactics played a major part in helping him to become the United States’ first men’s world downhill champion yesterday.

After engineering an early start number for himself in Friday’s final training session, the overall World Cup leader tore down the challenging Stelvio course in a blistering one minute 56.22 seconds — setting a benchmark for his rivals to beat an hour before they even had their skis on.

In the end it was Miller’s US teammate Daron Rahlves who came closest, finishing 0.44 seconds off the pace to take silver. Defending champion Michael Walchhofer of Austria had to settle for bronze, after crossing the line 0.87 seconds behind Miller.

“The groundwork for the win was in Friday’s training when I flicked the start gate before my run to make sure of a slow time and an early start bib,” explained Miller, 27.

“The low bib number wouldn’t have been an advantage for everyone because the light conditions were very flat at the start but it worked out well for me.

“At first I wasn’t that happy with my run, and I didn’t think it would be enough for a win, but I guess the course must have deteriorated, giving the others a rougher time.”

Tactical training runs have become common in downhill racing since the International Ski Federation (FIS) changed its rules the season before last, introducing start lists based on a reversal of the top 30 training times.

Walchhofer started 27th in the downhill while his team mate and Olympic champion Fritz Strobl, who was fastest in the training run, had bib No. 30 and finished out of the medals in fourth.

Miller’s strategy could easily have back-fired however. If he had been just slightly slower in Friday’s training he might have missed a top-30 spot altogether and ended up as one of the last starters yesterday.

Ironically, Miller has always been critical of the FIS system. Despite benefiting from it yesterday, he said he had not changed his opinion.

“It’s something they brought in for television to make the best guys go last, but it was already clear last year that it wasn’t working,” Miller said during his post-race media conference. “It just forces racers to slam on the brakes when they get near the finish line, which is obviously dangerous. I think a rule change is long overdue.”

Miller’s early start also gave him the chance to radio course information up the hill to Rahlves, who wore bib number 21, although Rahlves himself downplayed any tactical advantage there.

“It’s something we always do — when one of us goes down first we give the other one a quick report,” Rahlves said. “Obviously we get advice from the coaches, too, but it’s nice when you can get a report from another skier on the team. Today Bode just told me the conditions were a bit rough, and that I should hang in there and attack it.

“It’s nice to know what you’re getting into but I was already expecting most of what he said.” The Miller-Rahlves double act marked the first time that two Americans had finished on top of a world championship podium. It was also the first time in four world championships that the downhill gold medal has not gone to an Austrian.

Miller has now won four world championship titles in four different disciplines.

As well as winning the opening super-G race in Bormio last Saturday, Miller won giant slalom and combined gold medals at the St. Moritz world championships two years ago.