Olympics story by Carl Anders, Tue, 14 Feb 2006 03:16:00 GMT


SESTRIERE, Italy - The United States skiers were stunned in the Olympic downhill in Italy as little-known Frenchman Antoine Deneriaz left behind a team that included Bode Miller. Deneriaz also clocked the largest winning margin in this event since 1964.

His win by 72-hundredths of a second meant that the Americans who had tagged themselves as "Best in the World," were left a little shame-faced at the end of it all. Miller finished fifth, while Rahlves finished a lowly 10th. The defeat must have been really hard for the latter since he was second in practice yesterday. "I don't know where the speed went today," Rahlves admitted afterwards.

"I really don't know what to say. I got in the gate and I was ready. I came across the line and I was really surprised where I was at. I felt it was a good run, one of the better runs I've had." This was his last downhill and it was galling not to finish at the podium. But Miller appeared satisfied with his work, "Overall, it was good, " he said.

"It was the run I'd like to put down at the Olympics. There were two turns where I couldn't quite find the edge, and that's the difference between fifth and second." Miller made a simple error at the beginning and it proved costly at the end. As far as Deneriaz is concerned, the Frenchman has never figured in the top 15 in the world and although he has three World Cup downhills to his credit, he was never considered a threat. He acknowledged as much, "I was telling myself, 'Do it, do it, do it.' That's what I've been telling myself all week long. I attacked, I attacked. I was going fast, and when I got there it was great," he said. "I was feeling good. It's the kind of track where I like to go very fast. I am in my top shape."

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