. world ski news : Buechel posts first World Cup win, Eberharter pulls away in - 02 March 2003 - 18:38
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP) _ Similar errors but with very different outcomes. Marco Buechel recovered from a perilous mistake in a men's super-G Sunday to record his first career World Cup victory. In stark contrast, Bode Miller failed to overcome one of his own, ending up off course in a spray of snow and
damaging his chances of catching Stephan Eberharter in the chase for the overall title.
Buechel, a nine-year veteran on the World Cup circuit, was nearly thrown off the dark, icy Kandahar course, but held on to win in 1 minute, 16.13 seconds, edging newly-crowned super-G world champion Eberharter by .13 seconds.
"I just can't believe what has just happened," said the 31-year-old Buechel, beaming. "It's been such a long wait but it's worth it.
"It will probably only sink in tonight. I told my wife to hold onto me tight when I get home, because I'll probably be singing, jumping and dancing, just going crazy."
Eberharter, the World Cup overall leader, was runner-up in 1:16.26, while Switzerland's Tobias Gruenenfelder climbed the podium for the first time of his career, crossing third in 1:16.33.
Buechel nearly didn't make it down, losing his balance after hitting a bump and landing on his inside ski. Skiing on one leg, Buechel struggled for several breathtaking
moments to get his flailing outside leg back under him, before finally regaining control and eventually taking the lead.
Knowing the mistake had cost him precious time, Buechel then watched anxiously as the field's elite attempted to better his chrono.
The 30th skier out of the start hut, Eberharter appeared poised to take the victory, leading by 0.08 seconds in the final split, but lost time on a turn in the bottom section,
dropping him into second place.
"I wasn't so confident coming down so when I saw I was leading, I was surprised," Buechel said. "When I saw Eberharter's time, I just couldn't believe he was behind
me. It's crazy."
Buechel became just the fifth skier from Liechtenstein to win on the men's World Cup circuit.
It was the principality's first super-G victory in 19 years, Andreas Wenzel having won on this same hill in 1984.
It marked the first victory by a Liechtenstein skier _ man or woman _ since Achim Vogt won a giant slalom in Tignes in 1994.
Miller, like Buechel, lost control on the upper section of the course. But the master of recoveries was this time unable to regain it, and skied off course.
The mistake could prove costly for Miller, who finished a distant 28th in Saturday's downhill and now heads to the races in Asia trailing Eberharter by 185 points.
"It's been an unbelievable weekend for me," Eberharter said. "I scored 180 points so I'm more than satisfied.
"Even though I don't think about the overall when I'm racing, when you count the total at the end, I'm almost 200 points ahead of Bode. It's a good position to be in.
"The World Cup is not yet decided. I guess we will have to wait the last races to know the overall winner."
Miller can take hope in the fact the World Cup circuit travels now to the Far East for some technical races, which favor him.
Next weekend, a giant slalom and a slalom are scheduled in Yong Pyong, South Korea. The skiers then fly to Shiga Kogen in Japan before returning to Europe. The finals are in Lillehammer, Norway, the site of the 1994 Winter Olympics.
"Going to Korea will be key in catching Eberharter," Miller said. "The circuit moving to Asia favors North Americans who are used to traveling. It's an advantage for
us. In Europe, they're not used to going far or for long periods of time."
The victory boosted Buechel to the top of the World Cup super-G standings with 280 points, with reigning titlist Eberharter climbing a spot into second with 256.
With only one super-G remaining this season, Buechel is in a strong position to clinch the discipline World Cup crystal globe.
AP, 24.02.2003
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