Three racers who have battled head-to-head across the FIS World Cup speed disciplines in recent years look poised to wager a fight for the top of the podium at the Stiefel Birds of Prey men’s downhill scheduled for Friday, Dec. 6.
Thursday’s second and final training run saw Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr lead the way with a time of 1:40.18, while Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt, the defending overall and men’s downhill World Cup champion, was second, just .23 seconds back. France’s Cyprien Sarrazin, a double winner at the legendary Kitzbühel downhill last season, was third at .31 seconds behind Kriechmayr. Ryan Cochran-Siegle was the top American in fourth, .47 off the pace, while Bryce Bennett was sixth at .80 back. Some racers chose to come out of their tucks before the finish line, opting to save valuable energy for Friday’s race.
Odermatt and Sarrazin waged a close battle for the overall downhill crown last season, with Odermatt receiving the crystal globe by a 552-510-point margin when the final race of the season was cancelled. While Sarrazin had more wins — three to Odermatt’s two — the 27-year-old Swiss star was more consistent across the whole of the season, finishing no worse than seventh. His dominant success — at one point he had a 12-win streak in giant slalom that spanned two seasons — also brings more pressure and expectations.
Kriechmayr is looking to help restore the Austrian dominance on the Birds of Prey course; the nation has produced the most wins at 22 across all Alpine disciplines since the track was first used in 1997. His last World Cup downhill win came in 2023 at Kitzbühel. Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, who won the last four races contested at Birds of Prey in 2021 and 2022 — two downhills and two super-giant slaloms — is out for the season with complications to injuries suffered in a nasty crash at Wengen, Switzerland, last season. No races were held in 2023 due to high winds and snow.
The last American to win a downhill at Birds of Prey is Bode Miller in 2011 — his final race on the World Cup circuit. “Hopefully, we can put eight Americans into the points,” said Kyle Negomir, a Colorado native who calls the Beaver Creek event “the best race of the year. I see my mom working out there on Redtail (a section of the course). My dad and all our friends are here. The combination of having friends and family watching and such a classic track and the conditions this year, we’re pretty lucky to have it.” Negomir finished in a tie for 19th place on Thursday. “I’m finding a little more maturity,” Negomir added, “now that I’m in my third full season” at the World Cup level.
Other Americans on Thursday: 30. Sam Morse; 47. Erik Arvidsson; 49. Jared Goldberg; 62. Wiley Maple; 64. Sam Dupratt.
Friday’s official first World Cup downhill of the season is scheduled for an 11 a.m. start. All races are free to spectate at the John and Karen Arnold Red Tail Stadium, including the all-new Public Perch, which offers a spectacular vantage point above the race area.
Free race shuttles depart from the Covered Bridge in Beaver Creek Village often throughout race days. From the race-finish drop-off area, there is a five-minute on-snow walk uphill to Red Tail Stadium. Please allow one hour of travel time from the base of Beaver Creek Resort to Red Tail Stadium to avoid missing any of the action!
Post-race on Friday, live music, athlete autograph signings, a bib draw, and fireworks will light up Beaver Creek Village.
RESULTS
Men’s Downhill Training Run #3
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