HINTERSTODER, Austria (Reuters) – Austrian Hannes Reichelt found his best form just in time to snatch a berth at next week's world championships by claiming his first World Cup Super-G win in nearly three years on Saturday.The speed specialist, winner of the World Cup Super-G title in 2008, was not in the Austrian team for Garmisch-Partenkirchen following two disappointing seasons but this unexpected victory has suddenly brought him back in the picture."It's great to make the team with a victory on home soil. It's so difficult to make the Austrian team even when some of our best skiers are injured," Reichelt told reporters.The 30-year-old was not a first-choice starter in earlier World Cup races this season until injury struck down countrymen Hans Grugger, Mario Scheiber and Georg Streitberger, the World Cup Super-G leader.Reichelt's win, in one minute 43.91 seconds, came as a morale booster for his country ahead of the world championships especially as Benjamin Raich, the darling of Austrian skiing, was in second place, 0.34 behind."I didn't put too much pressure on myself today as I had a bad experience last year when I missed Olympic qualification because of bad results in Kranjska Gora," Reichelt said.Knowledge of the Hannes Trinkl piste, on which few skiers had trained before, was a key element as the course was one of the longest for a Super-G.MILLER THIRD"It was one of the most difficult Super-G races I can remember. This course was extremely long and technically challenging with tough turns in some parts," said Reichelt who recorded his last World Cup win in Bormio in March 2008.Bode Miller (1:44.84), back after a short break, showed he would again be a serious contender in Garmisch by finishing third.The American won the only other Super-G held in Hinterstoder five years ago but on a different course."I felt bad from the top to the bottom, it was very brutal, challenging and tactical," said Miller. "I'm always trying to win races but a podium finish is a pretty encouraging result."With two podium places in his last two races, Miller has high hopes for Garmisch."I'm always going to the worlds to win but there are so many variables. The level in men's skiing is increasing," he said.Last year's World Cup winner Carlo Janka of Switzerland, who has also taken some time off recently, finished fourth ahead of Croat Ivica Kostelic.Kostelic now leads closest rival, Swiss Silvan Zurbriggen, by 523 points and seems destined to win the World Cup.(Editing by Tony Jimenez)Mazimooo .Kite .Klein Aber Loewe (HBRCD01) .Escapade .High Level
Austrian Reichelt ends long victory wait
HINTERSTODER, Austria (Reuters) – Austrian Hannes Reichelt found his best form just in time to snatch a berth at next week's world championships by claiming his first World Cup Super-G win in nearly three years on Saturday.The speed specialist, winner of the World Cup Super-G title in 2008, was not in the Austrian team for Garmisch-Partenkirchen following two disappointing seasons but this unexpected victory has suddenly brought him back in the picture."It's great to make the team with a victory on home soil. It's so difficult to make the Austrian team even when some of our best skiers are injured," Reichelt told reporters.The 30-year-old was not a first-choice starter in earlier World Cup races this season until injury struck down countrymen Hans Grugger, Mario Scheiber and Georg Streitberger, the World Cup Super-G leader.Reichelt's win, in one minute 43.91 seconds, came as a morale booster for his country ahead of the world championships especially as Benjamin Raich, the darling of Austrian skiing, was in second place, 0.34 behind."I didn't put too much pressure on myself today as I had a bad experience last year when I missed Olympic qualification because of bad results in Kranjska Gora," Reichelt said.Knowledge of the Hannes Trinkl piste, on which few skiers had trained before, was a key element as the course was one of the longest for a Super-G.MILLER THIRD"It was one of the most difficult Super-G races I can remember. This course was extremely long and technically challenging with tough turns in some parts," said Reichelt who recorded his last World Cup win in Bormio in March 2008.Bode Miller (1:44.84), back after a short break, showed he would again be a serious contender in Garmisch by finishing third.The American won the only other Super-G held in Hinterstoder five years ago but on a different course."I felt bad from the top to the bottom, it was very brutal, challenging and tactical," said Miller. "I'm always trying to win races but a podium finish is a pretty encouraging result."With two podium places in his last two races, Miller has high hopes for Garmisch."I'm always going to the worlds to win but there are so many variables. The level in men's skiing is increasing," he said.Last year's World Cup winner Carlo Janka of Switzerland, who has also taken some time off recently, finished fourth ahead of Croat Ivica Kostelic.Kostelic now leads closest rival, Swiss Silvan Zurbriggen, by 523 points and seems destined to win the World Cup.(Editing by Tony Jimenez)Mazimooo .Kite .Klein Aber Loewe (HBRCD01) .Escapade .High Level