Aksel Lund Svindal fastest in downhill training run

By foxsports
Published

WENGEN, Switzerland (AP) Aksel Lund Svindal was fastest in downhill training Thursday on the classic Lauberhorn hill, where he has never won.

The Norwegian, who won the first three downhills of the season and leads the discipline standings, timed 1 minute, 49.66 seconds on a course shortened because of poor visibility higher up the mountain.

The Lauberhorn race is the longest on the World Cup circuit and is scheduled to be run over a nearly 4.4-kilometer (2.7-mile) distance on Saturday.

Vincent Kriechmayr of Austria was .04 behind in second, and Peter Fill of Italy was third, trailing .08 behind Svindal.

Last year's winner, Hannes Reichelt of Austria, was fourth-fastest, .44 behind.

The three-race Wengen weekend opens Friday with a combined event, including a shortened downhill and single slalom run.