Kilde back on top in World Cup downhill

After the super-G was canceled Friday due to weather, the men of the World Cup tour retook the downhill slopes in Val Gardena and a familiar name led the pack.

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR) utilized his trademark powerful skiing to outpace the field and capture his third victory of the season. The Norwegian has won three of the four downhill races so far in the 2022-23 Audi FIS World Cup season.

Kilde executed a clean run to post a time of 2:02.35, comfortably 0.35 ahead of second.

Kilde remains atop the downhill standings and is still in line to challenge for the overall title. The Norwegian will try to pick up points in giant slalom at Alta Badia next.

It is the 34th career podium for Kilde as he improves upon his disappointing fifth place finish in the downhill on the shorter course on Thursday. It is the seventh time he reached the podium in Val Gardena.

“It is amazing. I love to ski here. At the start, hearing the crowd shouting and the weather today was amazing. It is one of my favorite places to be,” said Kilde.

The rest of the standings were full of surprises.

Johan Clarey (FRA) improved upon his fourth-place finish on Friday with a gliding performance to take the second spot. Mattia Casse (ITA) came through to fill the last podium spot in his home country.

“To have all the oldest guy (Clarey) that has been with us for so many years and a new guy (Casse) on the podium who has been fighting for so many years and been through some terrible times, it is amazing,” said Kilde.

It was the tenth career podium for the evergreen Clarey, and just the third for the French skier since 2021. He is still chasing his first World Cup victory.

“I tried my best, but I made a lot of mistakes today because my skis were really fast. I believed I could win but I am behind a monster (laughs). So maybe tonight I will be happy but now I am a little disappointed,” said Clarey.

The 41-year-old has no plans of slowing down.

“I am still having fun and I don’t know how I can be so fast at this age. It is not easy, the stress and everything in mind, it is not easy to push hard. Today I managed it and hopefully I can do it again in the next races,” said Clarey.

The battle for third behind Clarey was thrilling.

Coming from late in the field with the 27th start position, Casse was ecstatic with his performance.

“I feel very, very good. I am in good condition and enjoying the new skis. I try my best in training every day and in the races. Now I get my first podium, so I am very, very happy,” said Casse.

It is the first time Casse claimed a coveted podium spot.

Overall leader Marco Odermatt (SUI) held third for a moment but ended tied for seventh with Travis Ganong (USA). It is the first time the Swiss superstar failed to podium in his eight races this season.

Adrien Theaux (FRA) used a late charge from the 32nd start position to take fourth. James Crawford (CAN) had a great ski to finish fifth. Cyprien Sarrazin (FRA) ended a shocking sixth from way back in the 61st start position.

Thursday’s downhill winner Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT) settled for 26th after a shaky start.