LAKE LOUISE, Canada (AFP) - American Bode Miller stormed to victory in the opening downhill of the 2004-05 World Cup season, finishing nearly a second ahead of France's Antoine Deneriaz.

  
Miller signalled the seriousness of his assault on the overall World Cup title as he added the first downhill victory of his World Cup career to the season-opening giant slalom triumph he claimed at Solden, Austria, last month.

From the 30th start position, Miller made it look easy as he led at virtually every split along the Olympic course to rocket in front of Deneriaz.

It means all the pieces came together today," the 27-year-old Miller said of his run. "There's a lot of pieces that have to come together to win a downhill. Even more pieces have to come together to be a second ahead.

The French skier, third here last year, had taken the lead from the 24th starting spot with his time of 1:43.72, displacing Austrian Michael Walchhoffer.

Walchhoffer, the reigning downhill world champion and winner of a downhill here last year, eventually settled for third in 1:43.92.

For a time it had looked like the mighty Austrians, shut out of the podium places in the season opening event at Solden, would reassert their authority in the first speed event of the season.

Fritz Strobl

But Hans Knauss and overall World Cup title holder Hermann Maier saw their possible podium places evaporate as they finished fourth and sixth - with American Daron Rahlves between them.

Didier Cuche

Austrian men had won every downhill staged here since the race was moved from Whistler in 1999.

Miller, who is trying to become the first American since Phil Mahre in 1983 to win the coveted overall title, can add to his lead Sunday when the season's first super-G wil be run on the same course.  

Sat Nov 27, 7:16 PM ET   Canada - AFP