GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany, 30 January 2004 — Hermann Maier returns to the resort where he burst into the limelight this weekend with a chance to bounce back in his bid for a fourth overall World Cup title.
The Austrian, who has fond memories of the picturesque Bavarian Alps town where he posted his first major victory in a super-G in 1997, should make up ground on leader Benjamin Raich after downhills today and tomorrow and a super-G on Sunday.
In his first full season since nearly losing a leg in a motorcycle crash in 2001, the formidable Maier has scored two wins already and been on the podium on three other occasions.
Raich, who recaptured the overall lead by winning a floodlit slalom in Schladming on Tuesday, should lose it this weekend as he is chiefly a technical racer and will miss both downhills to concentrate on the super-G.
Lasse Kjus, who would have been the favorite to take over from Raich atop the standings, had his chances of winning the overall title for the third time undermined when he pulled out of the weekend races with a knee injury.
The Norwegian, who was second overall, 94 points behind Raich, flew home after failing to finish yesterday’s training run because of pain in the right knee he injured when landing a jump in a downhill in Kitzbuehel tomorrow.
“It’s over for Garmisch, that’s for sure,” said Norway’s downhill coach, Mariusz Arnesen. “Let’s hope it’s not over for the season.”
Bode Miller, aiming to become the first American to win the overall World Cup title since Phil Mahre in 1983, remains in contention in third place but prefers the technical races.
While Miller may have to wait before making a move in what promises to be a thrilling end of season, the time is right not only for Maier but also for Austrian rival Stephan Eberharter since both tend to shine down the awe-inspiring Kandahar piste.
Maier and Eberharter are fourth and fifth respectively in the overall standings and both could mathematically take the lead after the three weekend races.
The form sheet favors Eberharter, who shows no signs of wear at 34 as he illustrated by becoming the oldest World Cup winner in history when he stormed to victory in the classic Hahnenkamm downhill in Kitzbuehel tomorrow.
